Severe winter conditions, marked by a biting cold wave and dense fog, have forced authorities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to shut down schools for younger students. The administrative actions aim to protect children from health risks and hazardous travel conditions caused by the plummeting temperatures and dangerously poor visibility.
Bareilly District Announces Three-Day School Closure
The Bareilly district administration in Uttar Pradesh took decisive action on Wednesday, December 18, 2025. All schools, including government, aided, and private institutions, for classes 1 to 8 will remain closed from December 18 to December 20. The order was issued in response to the persistent cold wave and dense fog disrupting normal life across the region.
Basic Shiksha Adhikari Dr. Vinita confirmed the directive came from District Magistrate Avinash Singh. She warned that strict action would be taken against any school violating the order. An important caveat was added: schools with pre-scheduled examinations may proceed with them as planned.
Officials reported that Tuesday, December 17, was the coldest day in Bareilly in a decade, with the maximum temperature dropping to a mere 16.3 degrees Celsius. Additional District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Singh stated that the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for dense fog for the next three days, with cold winds from the hills likely to worsen the situation.
Delhi Parallels with Online Classes and Vehicle Curbs
The situation in the national capital mirrors that of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in the week, the Delhi government mandated a shift to online classes for all students up to Grade 5 due to the adverse weather. The Delhi High Court also advised virtual appearances for advocates and parties, citing the harsh conditions.
As pollution levels deteriorated further, the Delhi government announced stricter measures. From Thursday, December 18, non-BS VI compliant private vehicles registered outside Delhi will be banned from entering the capital. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa declared that violating vehicles would be seized.
In another significant move, Minister Sirsa stated that starting Thursday, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be denied fuel at city petrol pumps. These steps highlight the dual challenge of tackling seasonal winter pollution alongside the cold wave.
Official Advisory and Safety Precautions
With no immediate relief forecasted, authorities have issued strong advisories for public safety. Residents in the affected regions are urged to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel, especially during early morning and late evening hours when fog is densest.
- Exercise extreme caution on roads due to significantly reduced visibility.
- Take special care of children and the elderly, who are most vulnerable to the extreme cold.
- Ensure proper winter clothing and heating where necessary.
The administration's primary focus is on minimizing public exposure to the hazardous combination of freezing temperatures and air pollution, which poses serious respiratory and health risks. The collective measures in Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh underscore the severity of the ongoing winter spell across North India.
