Berhampur: Kandhamal district administration declared a holiday for school students for Thursday and Friday owing to incessant rainfall across the district under influence of a low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal.In an office order issued on Thursday, Kandhamal collector Ved Bhusan said all classes for students in all schools up to Class XII will remain suspended for Thursday and Friday considering torrential rain. Exams and some other activities would be held as scheduled in the schools, he said.The district administration adopted the step as a precautionary measure and to ensure safety of school students, sources said.“Though classes for students were suspended across the district for two days by the collector’s order, schools, however, would remain open, while teachers would be present as usual,” said Rajesh Swain, district education officer.The district has recorded an average 38.93 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8 am on Thursday, sources said.Highest rainfall was recorded at Baliguda (90 mm), followed by Khajuripada (75.2 mm), Phiringia (72.6 mm), Raikia (39.4 mm), Phulbani (36.6 mm) and Nuagaon (30.2 mm), sources said.“We have alerted block development officers and tehsildars about rain. They have been asked to remain alert and prepared to meet any eventuality due to the rain,” said the collector. No damage was reported from anywhere in the district due to the rains, official sources said.
