With Cyclone Arnab unleashing unseasonal rainfall across Chhattisgarh and sending daytime temperatures sharply below normal, the State Government has ordered a two-day closure of schools, prioritising children’s health and safety amid warnings of further heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning. School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav announced the precautionary measure, citing the difficulties children could face while travelling to school and the potential health implications of prolonged exposure to rain and adverse weather. District collectors across all five revenue divisions, Raipur, Bilaspur,

 

Durg, Bastar and Surguja, have issued school closure orders following instructions communicated to district administrations. In Raipur, Collector and District Disaster Management Authority Chairman Gaurav Kumar Singh issued an order on Wednesday, declaring October 29 a holiday for students of educational institutions throughout the district. Invoking Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the order cited India Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings concerning Cyclone Arnab and the possibility of rainfall, strong winds and other adverse weather conditions. The decision comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the weakening cyclonic system would continue influencing weather across the State.

 

According to the IMD’s Raipur Meteorological Centre, Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts before moving north-northwestwards. The system was expected to weaken progressively, although its residual circulation could sustain rainfall over Chhattisgarh. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was forecast at isolated locations across central and southern Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, with the threat shifting towards northern districts on Thursday. The October 29 forecast indicates moderate rainfall at most places, while isolated locations in northern Chhattisgarh could experience heavy to very heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph. The weather disturbance has already produced a pronounced temperature contrast. Raipur recorded a maximum of 26.1 degrees Celsius on

 

Wednesday, 4.8 degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 23.5 degrees, 3.6 degrees above normal. Rainfall in the capital reached 8.1 mm by Wednesday evening, with relative humidity touching 98 per cent. The IMD forecasts cloudy skies and intermittent rain or thundershowers on Thursday, with temperatures hovering around 24 degrees maximum and 22 degrees minimum. Rainfall observations showed 3 cm each at Sukma, Chhindgarh and Katekalyan, and 2 cm each at Bade Bacheli and Tongpal. Bilaspur recorded the State’s highest maximum temperature of 27.8 degrees, while Pendra Road registered the lowest minimum at 18.6 degrees. Light to moderate rainfall is expected at many locations during the subsequent two days, with isolated thunderstorms and lightning.