The district administration of Varanasi has ordered the closure of all urban schools up to Class 8 until February 8, in light of the surge in pilgrims visiting the city for the ongoing Maha Kumbh. Schools are instructed to switch to online classes during this period.
The decision was prompted by an unexpected influx of pilgrims from Prayagraj on February 5, which led to severe traffic congestion. To manage traffic flow and maintain law and order, the authorities have opted for this measure.
As per the order from the district magistrate, all government, government-aided, CBSE, ICSE, and other affiliated schools in Varanasi’s urban areas will remain closed. However, rural schools will continue to operate as usual.
Arvind Kumar Pathak, the Basic Education Officer, confirmed that despite the school closures, teachers and staff at government and aided institutions will remain on duty for administrative tasks, such as processing Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Aadhaar seeding, and other maintenance work under the ‘Operation Kayakalp’ initiative. Teachers’ scheduled training sessions will also proceed as planned.
The closure is being enforced to ensure student safety and to minimize disruptions caused by the increased number of visitors. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will take further action if necessary.
