Punjab Floods Force Education Shutdown: Schools, Colleges Closed Till September 7

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced closure of all schools, colleges, universities and polytechnics till September 7, 2025, following severe floods. The move, directed by Punjab CM, Bhagwant Singh Mann, aims to ensure student safety as the state battles a crisis across 23 districts.

Image source: X (formerly Twitter)

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has announced that all schools, colleges, universities and polytechnic institutes in the state will remain closed until September 7, 2025, following the devastating floods that have gripped large parts of Punjab.

The decision, he said, was taken under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to ensure the safety of students and staff.

“In accordance with the directives of the Honorable Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji, keeping in view the flood situation in Punjab, holidays have been declared in all government/aided/recognized/private schools/colleges/universities and polytechnic colleges in the state until September 7, 2025. Everyone is requested to fully comply with the instructions issued by the local administration,” Bains wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

A State Declared Disaster-Hit

The floodwaters have affected all 23 districts of Punjab, officially declared disaster-hit by the government. As per reports, around 3.5 lakh people have been displaced, while 61,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed, leaving the agrarian state shaken. Tragically, more than 30 lives have already been lost.

For students, this means not only missed classes but also uncertainty about exams, practicals, and the academic calendar. Teachers in many districts are doubling up as volunteers, helping distribute food and organise relief efforts instead of conducting lessons.

Classrooms under Water

For lakhs of school going children across Punjab, classrooms have now turned into makeshift shelters. In flood-hit villages, blackboards are smeared with mud, desks are floating, and playgrounds are submerged. For many, education has come to a sudden halt—just weeks into the academic session.

Simran Kaur, a Class 9 student from Ferozepur, speaking from a relief camp where her family has taken refuge shared: “Books are destroyed, uniforms are gone, and we don’t even know when schools will open again.” Simran’s story echoes across 1,400 villages where schools have been inundated or repurposed as shelters.

Exams and Academic Disruptions

The closure has sparked concerns about upcoming board exam preparations, semester tests, and competitive exams coaching. With Class 10 and 12 students already under pressure, parents worry about how syllabus backlogs will be covered. Coaching centres in Ludhiana and Jalandhar have also shut their doors due to waterlogging. “There is no internet, no electricity in our area. Online classes are not an option either,” said a teacher from Gurdaspur, highlighting the digital divide that has resurfaced in rural Punjab.

Institutions out to help

Many of the private universities and colleges in Mohali, Ludhiana, and Amritsar have opened their campuses to serve as relief centres, offering shelter and food. “At this point, our responsibility goes beyond academics. Students and staff are helping in community kitchens, counselling children in distress, and organising donation drives,” said a spokesperson from a leading private university in Mohali.

Polytechnic colleges, too, have suspended practical training programmes, with labs damaged and machinery at risk. Higher education officials admitted that restoring campuses may take weeks after waters recede.

Chief Minister Mann, while visiting submerged areas by boat, assured that the state will “prioritise restoring education” once relief operations stabilise. He has sought ₹60,000 crore in pending central funds for rehabilitation, promising financial aid to schools and universities for repairs. When schools reopen after September 7, many children may return not to classrooms but to buildings in need of repair, books to be redistributed, and lessons to be restarted.

Read More: