Schools Closed October 28–29 in Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Arnab Nears Landfall
Published 28 Oct 20265 min read
Schools in specific districts across Jharkhand, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will remain closed on October 28 and 29, 2026, as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast for an expected landfall by forenoon on October 28.
The closures are district-specific. Students and parents should verify their own district's order, as dates and scope differ by location and state.
Jharkhand: Ranchi and West Singhbhum Closed October 28–29
In Ranchi, all government, government-aided (including minority), and private schools will remain closed on October 28 and 29 for Kindergarten to Class 12. The order was issued by Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 .
Teachers must report. Teaching staff in Ranchi schools are required to be present for non-academic duties on both days and must record attendance on the e-Vidyavahini portal .
Exams exception: Private schools that had already scheduled examinations for October 28–29 may conduct them, provided they inform the District Education Officer or District Superintendent of Education office .
West Singhbhum district has also ordered school closures on October 28 and 29 for KG to Class 12 across all management categories .
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum for 24 hours starting 8:30 AM on October 28 .
Odisha: Schools, Colleges, Anganwadi Centres Closed in Six Districts
Educational institutions—including schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres—will remain closed on October 28 and 29 in these six southern districts, following orders from their respective collectors:
- Ganjam
- Gajapati
- Rayagada
- Malkangiri
- Koraput
- Nabarangpur
These districts face an orange warning from the IMD for heavy to very heavy rainfall of 12–20 cm . The state has prepared 135 permanent cyclone shelters and approximately 1,600 temporary shelters, with around 48,000 people expected to be evacuated from vulnerable areas .
Students in other Odisha districts should note that additional closures were announced in Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, and other districts, but those orders followed separate timelines . The six districts above are the southern Odisha districts where collectors ordered two-day closures on October 28–29.
Andhra Pradesh: Ten Districts Affected, Dates Vary
Andhra Pradesh has ordered school closures in ten districts, broader than initially reported. The districts are:
| District | Closure Period |
|---|---|
| East Godavari | October 27–28 |
| Kakinada | October 27–28 |
| Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema | October 27–28 |
| Krishna | October 27–28 |
| NTR | October 27–28 |
| Vizianagaram | October 27–28 |
| Visakhapatnam | October 27–28 |
| Eluru | October 27–28 |
| Polavaram | October 27–28 |
| Anakapalli | October 27–29 |
Most districts have declared holidays for October 27 and 28. Anakapalli has ordered a three-day closure through October 29, with District Collector Vijaya Krishnan directing the district school education officer to ensure strict implementation. Lost working days will be compensated later without reducing the prescribed number of school days .
The orders apply to schools under all managements in the affected districts .
Cyclone Arnab: Landfall and IMD Alerts
The India Meteorological Department forecasts Cyclone Arnab to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by forenoon of October 28, 2026. Maximum sustained wind speeds are expected at 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph .
A storm surge of 1.0 to 1.5 metres above astronomical tide could inundate low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh during landfall . Red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall have been issued for Kakinada, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, NTR, and Krishna districts. Orange alerts cover Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, and Alluri Sitharama Raju .
What Teachers and School Staff Should Do
Jharkhand: Teachers in Ranchi must report for non-academic duties and mark attendance on e-Vidyavahini. Private schools holding exams must notify the DEO/DSO office.
Odisha: In some districts, teaching and non-teaching staff have been directed to attend institutions despite student closures, and school buildings must be kept ready as emergency shelters .
Andhra Pradesh: Follow district-specific orders. Anakapalli's order covers all schools under all managements through October 29.
What Happens Next
Closure orders may be extended if weather conditions worsen. Parents should rely on district administration announcements and school-level notices rather than assuming uniform statewide holidays. The IMD's alerts for Jharkhand extend into October 29–30, with an orange alert for several western districts until 8:30 AM on October 30 .