Kolkata: West Bengal state Education Minister Bratya Basu has announced that all schools and educational institutions in West Bengal will remain closed on September 24 and 25 amid heavy rains. The minister said the decision to close all schools in the state was made following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to keep students off waterlogged roads to prevent accidents by electrocution.
Minister Bratya Basu has instructed schools to declare holidays or shift to online classes. The minister also said since the Durga Puja holidays are scheduled to start from September 26, the puja vacation will start from September 24.
“An unprecedented calamity-like situation prevails in the state. In keeping with the advice of the chief minister to offer relief to our students in the current situation and to pre-empt accidents, it has been decided to keep all education institutions closed tomorrow and the day after, that is, on September 24 and 25,” Basu wrote on X.
এক অভূতপূর্ব দুর্যোগের পরিস্থিতি সৃষ্টি হয়েছে রাজ্যে। মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর উপদেশে এই দুর্যোগে ছাত্রছাত্রীদের স্বস্তি দিতে এবং দুর্ঘটনা থেকে রক্ষা করতে আগামী কাল এবং পরশু, অর্থাৎ ২৪ এবং ২৫ সেপ্টেম্বর রাজ্যের সমস্ত বিদ্যালয় ও উচ্চ শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলি বন্ধ রাখার সিদ্ধান্ত…
— Bratya Basu (@basu_bratya) September 23, 2025
“Since the Durga Puja holidays are scheduled to start from September 26, effectively the vacation will start from tomorrow (Wednesday). I wish all happy Pujas. My deepest condolences remain with the next of kin of my fellow citizens who lost their lives in this calamity,” the minister added.
Amid very heavy rainfall on Tuesday, Kolkata and its surrounding areas are waterlogged. The sources suggest that at least seven people died due to electrocution in the city. Parents and students are advised to be in touch with school authorities regarding the reopening and latest updates.