Faced with severe waterlogging and disruption of daily life, the West Bengal government on Tuesday declared Puja holidays in state-run educational institutions two days ahead of schedule.
Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to citizens to stay off waterlogged roads and avoid the risk of electrocution, Education Minister Bratya Basu announced that all government-run institutions, including schools and universities, would remain closed on September 24 and 25.
“An unprecedented calamity-like situation prevails in the state. In keeping with the advice of the chief minister to offer relief to our students in the current situation and to pre-empt accidents, it has been decided to keep all education institutions closed tomorrow and the day after, that is, on September 24 and 25,” Basu wrote on X.
He also urged teachers and non-teaching staff to work from home to complete urgent and unfinished tasks.
Durga Puja Holidays Advanced Amid Tragedy
Since Durga Puja holidays were originally scheduled to begin from September 26, the government decision means vacations will effectively start from September 24.
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“I wish all happy Pujas. My deepest condolences remain with the next of kin of my fellow citizens who lost their lives in this calamity,” Basu added.
Normal life in Kolkata and its suburbs came to a near halt on Tuesday, with heavy rains flooding roads, disrupting traffic, and paralysing public transport. At least seven people were reported dead due to electrocution. Some areas of the city recorded more than 330 mm of rain in just a few hours, while most parts, including suburban regions, registered over 250 mm of rainfall.
