UP schools closed till Aug 12 in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat amid Kanwar Yatra

Schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut and Ghaziabad districts will remain closed until August 12 due to the heavy movement of Kanwar pilgrims amid ongoing Kanwar Yatra. The decision was taken to ensure students' safety and facilitate traffic management as a large number of devotees travel through districts during Shravan Shivratri period.

In Meerut, District Magistrate V K Singh ordered holiday for all schools, colleges, universities and technical institutions from August 3. All educational institutions from Classes 1 to 12 affiliated with the Basic Shiksha Parishad, Uttar Pradesh Board, CBSE, CISCE, the madrassa board and other recognised boards will be following this order. Government and private colleges, universities and technical institutions will also suspend classes until August 12.

Similarly, the Ghaziabad administration has announced holiday for all schools from nursery to Class 12, along with colleges, universities and technical institutions, from August 4 to August 12. In an official order, the District Inspector of Schools said a large number of Kanwariyas had begun moving through various routes in the district. However, both the Meerut and Ghaziabad administrations clarified that examinations already scheduled by educational institutions will be conducted as per the existing timetable and will remain exempt from the holiday orders.

Decision to ensure students' safety

The Baghpat administration has also ordered holiday for all government and private schools from Classes 1 to 12 from August 3 to August 12. The order, issued by District Inspector of Schools Rajeev Kumar Yadav on the directions of District Magistrate Asmita Lal, applies to schools affiliated with all education boards.

According to the Baghpat administration, lakhs of Kanwar pilgrims carrying Ganga water from Haridwar are passing through the district, while many devotees are also visiting prominent Shiva temples for 'jalabhishek'.

The administration warned that action would be taken against schools violating the order. It also said the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai are personally monitoring the arrangements.

Earlier, the Muzaffarnagar administration had announced the closure of all schools and colleges from August 3 to August 10 for similar reasons. In addition, the district has directed meat shops and restaurants along Kanwar routes to remain closed until August 12 and imposed phased traffic diversions to facilitate the movement of pilgrims.

(With PTI inputs)