White Sunday in Kashmir; winter break in schools from Dec 6

Srinagar, Dec 3 (UNI) The prevailing cold wave conditions have forced the Jammu and Kashmir government to close all schools in the valley from December 6 even as the summer capital and plain areas witnessed the season's first snowfall today.

People woke up today morning to find the entire Kashmir valley under a carpet of snow. The snowfall in the Srinagar city and other plain areas in Kashmir picked up in the afternoon.

The entire Kashmir valley was in the grip of freezing cold as snow accompanied by rain further brought down the temperature.

Much to the relief of parents and students, the Jammu and Kashmir government decided to close all schools in the Valley from December 6, ten days ahead of the normal schedule in view of the extreme cold weather conditions.

Director Education Mohammad Rafi told UNI that all government and private schools in the Kashmir valley would now close on December 6 for winter vacations. These were earlier scheduled to close on December 15. The schools would reopen on February 19 next year after a 75-day break, he added.

Mr Rafi said the Education Department was committed to providing 220 days of teaching to students in the state.

''To ensure that there is no loss of teaching days, we have preponed the normal schedule for re-opening of schools in the Kashmir valley. The schools were earlier scheduled to re-open on March one, but now these would start functioning from February 19 next year,'' he added.

Mr Rafi said the decisions were taken at a high-level meeting here this afternoon.

Several parents had complained that there were no heating arrangements for students in all government and private schools in the Kashmir valley.

People were seen keeping themselves warm with both traditional ''kangris (firepots)'' and modern appliances such as heat convectors and gas heaters. Kashmiris also wear 'pheron (long woolen coat)' for nearly six months to beat the cold.

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