Heavy Rain Forces Closure of All Schools and Colleges in Himachal’s Sirmaur, Solan

SHIMLA, Jul 10: All government and private schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur and Solan districts remained closed on Friday after continuous rainfall triggered safety concerns across the hill state, prompting local authorities to suspend classes as a preventive step.

The decision was taken amid warnings of extraemely heavy rain and the possibility of landslides, flash floods, road blockages and other weather-related disruptions that could place students and commuters at risk. District administrations in both Sirmaur and Solan issued closure orders under disaster management provisions, citing the need to protect children and prevent any untoward incidents as monsoon conditions intensified.

Officials said the closure covered all educational institutions, both government-run and privately managed, as well as Anganwadi centres. While students were exempted from attending classes, teaching and non-teaching staff were directed to report to their institutions as usual.

In Sirmaur district, the closure was initially announced late Thursday for the Paonta subdivision, but as rainfall continued and conditions worsened, the order was extended early Friday to other subdivisions as well. Separate directives were issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Nahan, Sangrah, Pacchad and Rajgarh, effectively bringing the entire district under the shutdown order for the day.

The district administration said the move was based on a weather warning and on-ground reports indicating that persistent rain had begun to affect road connectivity and daily movement in several areas. Rural routes in particular were reported to be vulnerable, with the risk of landslides and falling debris increasing as showers continued through the night and into the morning.

A similar order was issued in neighbouring Solan district, where the administration cited dangerous weather conditions and the threat posed to school-going children travelling through hilly terrain. Authorities noted that rain related disruptions had affected normal life and made commuting unsafe, especially in areas where roads are narrow, prone to slipping and frequently impacted by heavy monsoon spells.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh, warning that the weather system could trigger landslides, sudden flooding in vulnerable pockets, uprooting of trees and road obstructions. Officials said these factors were taken into account while deciding to suspend classes in the interest of public safety.

The orders were issued by the Deputy Commissioners of the two districts in their capacity as chairpersons of the respective District Disaster Management Authorities. The administration invoked powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to enforce the temporary closure as a precautionary measure during the adverse weather spell.

Authorities said the decision was intended to minimise exposure of schoolchildren to dangerous travel conditions. In hill districts such as Sirmaur and Solan, many students travel considerable distances to reach educational institutions, often using rural roads or slopes that can become hazardous during intense rainfall. Officials said the suspension was meant to avoid any risk to life, especially in remote and landslide-prone belts.

Heavy rain has already disrupted connectivity in parts of Sirmaur, with several roads reported closed or partially blocked. Waterlogging, mudslides and falling stones have affected local movement in some pockets, while emergency teams remain on alert in case the weather deteriorates further.

The impact of the ongoing rain was also visible in Shimla, where normal activity was affected by wet conditions and traffic movement slowed in several stretches. In one incident reported from the Vikasnagar area of the state capital, a wall collapsed in front of a building, damaging two vehicles parked nearby. No casualties were reported, but the incident added to concerns over the vulnerability of structures and roadside areas during prolonged rain.

Officials said district administrations across the state are closely monitoring the situation and reviewing field reports from local authorities, disaster response teams and public works departments. Residents in vulnerable zones have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel, stay alert to weather advisories and immediately report landslides, road damage or flooding to the nearest authorities.

The closure of educational institutions in Sirmaur and Solan comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face an active monsoon phase, with several districts witnessing repeated rain spells over the past few days. The hilly terrain, combined with saturated soil and fragile road networks, often makes the region particularly susceptible to weather-related disruptions during this time of year.

Authorities have indicated that further decisions on school operations will depend on the weather situation and the restoration of safe travel conditions. For now, the administration’s focus remains on preventing accidents, maintaining readiness for emergency response and ensuring that students are not exposed to avoidable risk during the ongoing rain spell.