Noida: In an attempt to safeguard childrens lives, schools in Noida and Ghaziabad will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday following the state government’s order in wake of the earthquake tremors felt across UP for the second consecutive day on Sunday.
A strong 6.7-magnitude aftershock followed by another measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit Nepal on Sunday, sending tremors across northern India again.
“All schools up to Class XII in the city shall remain closed on Monday and Tuesday. Further orders will be given to the schools,” Praveen Kumar Upadhayay, district inspector of schools, Gautam Budh Nagar said.
Ghaziabad DM Vimal Kumar Sharma also ordered closure of all city schools on both the days.
Several schools, however, denied receiving any closure order from the state education department and said communication gap between the district administration and schools in such situations is not new. Many schools said they will remain closed on Monday and will take a call on further action on Tuesday.
“Safety of children is paramount. In the view of the fresh tremors, the school will remain closed on Monday. It will, however, remain open for staff,” said Asha Prabhakar, principal, Bal Bharti Public School in Sector 21.
Sumita Malik, pre-primary head of Shiv Nadar School in Sector 168 along the Noida-Greater Noida expressway, said, “The school will remain shut on Monday and the school committee will decide on further action on Tuesday.”
“We have not received the order’s copy. We have decided to close the school on Monday. We will decide on further closure on Tuesday,” Kamini Bhasin, principal, DPS Sector 30, said. She said she came to know about the government’s order from principals of other city schools.
The district inspector of schools, however, said he has sent email to all the schools. “Schools which haven’t received it should contact us. Schools also need to keep themselves updated as safety of children is their responsibility too,” said Upadhayay. Schools will be held responsible if any unwanted incident takes place, he added.
Many parents meanwhile welcomed the move. “The schools should ideally re-open after observing the situation for some time. Children are not safe in schools at present.