Schools across Navi Mumbai were forced to suspend classes on Monday, afternoon after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its warning from orange to red alert for the city. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) Education Department decided to declare a holiday as a precautionary measure to ensure student safety.

While students attended school in the morning session, the sudden change in weather conditions prompted officials to act swiftly. Sanghratna Khillare, deputy commissioner (education), NMMC, said, “In the morning, students came to school as usual. However, after IMD issued a red lert and Mumbai schools declared holidays, we too decided to follow suit.”

Khillare added that teachers were instructed to inform parents immediately and ensure that every child returned home safely. “Our priority is the safety of children. We have asked all teachers to take care of the students and make sure they reach home without any inconvenience,” she said.