Jharkhand School Closed October 28–29: Ranchi, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Simdega Shut Due to Cyclone Arnab
Published 28 Oct 20264 min read
Schools in four Jharkhand districts—Ranchi, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, and Simdega—are closed on October 28 and 29, 2026, due to rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab. In Ranchi, all government, government-aided, and private schools will suspend academic activities for Classes KG to 12 on both dates.
The district administrations of Ranchi, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, and Simdega ordered the closures as a precautionary measure after Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast and its rain-bearing cloud bands began affecting Jharkhand . Saraikela-Kharsawan also announced a one-day closure for October 28 .
District-wise school closure status
| District | Closure dates | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Ranchi | October 28–29 | All government, government-aided (including minority), and private schools; Classes KG–12 |
| East Singhbhum | October 28–29 | Schools closed |
| West Singhbhum | October 28–29 | Schools closed |
| Simdega | October 28–29 | Schools closed |
| Saraikela-Kharsawan | October 28 (one day) | All categories of schools |
The closure is district-specific, not a statewide holiday. Students in other Jharkhand districts should check their local administration's announcements before assuming a closure applies.
Why schools are closed: Cyclone Arnab
Cyclone Arnab made landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on the Andhra Pradesh coast around 1:20 AM on October 28, as a "very severe" cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department .
Ranchi, West Singhbhum, and East Singhbhum had been experiencing intermittent rainfall since Tuesday night (October 27) under the cyclone's influence . Abhishek Anand, Deputy Director at the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, stated that the major impact of the cyclone over Jharkhand was expected between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday (October 28–29) .
Teacher attendance and exam instructions
Students have been given a holiday, but teachers must attend school as scheduled. During the closure, teachers are to perform non-academic duties. Government school teachers are required to mark their attendance on the e-Vidya Vahini portal .
For private schools with previously scheduled examinations on October 28 or 29, management may decide independently whether to conduct the exams, but must inform the district education office of the decision .
IMD weather alerts for Jharkhand
The Ranchi Meteorological Centre issued the following alerts:
Yellow alert (heavy rainfall): Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum for 24 hours from 8:30 AM on October 28 .
Orange alert: Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, and West Singhbhum until 8:30 AM on October 30 .
Yellow alert from October 29: Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan, and East Singhbhum for 24 hours from 8:30 AM on October 29 .
What parents and students should do
Confirm your district against the table above before assuming a closure applies.
Check school communication for any institution-specific instructions, particularly regarding exams.
Avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall and follow IMD advisories.
Monitor official channels for any extension or revision of the closure order beyond October 29. Rainfall alerts extending beyond that date do not automatically establish an additional holiday.