Odisha Govt Closes Schools in Eight Districts from Oct 28–30 as Cyclone Montha Nears

Schools will remain shut in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur districts.

The Odisha government has ordered the closure of all government, aided, and private schools in eight southern districts from October 28 to 30, 2025, as Cyclone Montha approaches the east coast.

The School and Mass Education Department issued an official notice announcing the holiday to ensure the safety of students and staff amid expected heavy rain and strong winds.

Schools will remain shut in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur districts. The order comes as the cyclone, currently over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify into a severe storm and make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kakinada on the Andhra Pradesh coast on the evening or night of October 28.

The government has also canceled all leaves for officials and staff of the School and Mass Education and Ganashiksha departments in these districts to ensure administrative readiness.

Authorities have urged schools to follow the directive strictly and advised parents to keep children indoors during the bad weather.

The state administration has stepped up cyclone preparedness, with evacuations already underway in vulnerable low-lying and hilly areas. Over 5,000 personnel from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed for rescue and relief work.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Montha is moving west-northwest at around 16 kmph and was about 850 km south of Gopalpur as per the latest update. Neighboring Andhra Pradesh has also closed schools in coastal areas and banned fishing activities as a precaution.