Heavy rainfall and flood threats in Tripura prompted the government to close all schools, while TBSE rescheduled the Higher Secondary “Save a Year” examination. Authorities prioritised student safety, revised the exam timetable, and assured results would be declared on schedule despite disruptions.
The Tripura government on Monday ordered the closure of all Government, Government-aided and Private schools across West Tripura and Sepahijala districts following relentless rainfall that triggered severe waterlogging and heightened the risk of flooding in several areas. The precautionary measure was taken to ensure the safety of students, teachers and school staff as heavy rain continued to disrupt normal life across the state.
The Education Department directed District Education Officers to issue immediate closure notices to all educational institutions under their jurisdiction. Authorities stressed that no school should remain open during the prevailing adverse weather conditions, as many roads had become difficult to navigate due to inundation and continuous rainfall.
The decision comes amid growing concerns over public safety as several low-lying areas reported flooding, affecting transportation and daily activities. Officials said the temporary suspension of classes was necessary to prevent students from facing hazardous travel conditions.
In a related development, the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) announced the postponement of the Higher Secondary “Save a Year” examination that was scheduled to be conducted on July 13. The Board cited repeated requests from schools, the Directorate of Education and district administrations, all of whom expressed concern over the safety of candidates appearing for the examination during the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
TBSE President Dr. Dhananjoy Gan Choudhury said the Board carefully reviewed the situation before deciding to revise the examination schedule. According to the revised programme, the Higher Secondary “Save a Year” papers in Mathematics, Geography and Education will now be conducted on July 15 from 12 noon to 3:15 pm.
With the rescheduling of these papers, the Higher Secondary examination, which was originally scheduled to conclude on July 14, will now end on July 15. Despite the one-day extension, Dr. Choudhury expressed confidence that the Board would still be able to publish the examination results by July 25, provided there are no further disruptions caused by the prevailing natural calamities.
He also noted that the Madhyamik “Save a Year” examination had commenced on July 6 and concluded successfully on July 10 without major interruptions. The Higher Secondary examinations were nearing completion when the latest weather conditions necessitated the postponement.
Officials estimated that between 2,200 and 2,300 candidates are appearing in the combined Madhyamik and Higher Secondary “Bachar Bachao” or “Save a Year” examinations this year. The revised examination schedule is expected to minimise inconvenience while ensuring that candidates can appear safely once weather conditions improve.
Meanwhile, district administrations are closely monitoring the evolving flood situation and coordinating with emergency response agencies. Residents living in vulnerable and low-lying areas have been advised to remain indoors unless travel is absolutely necessary.
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The state government’s swift response reflects its commitment to prioritising public safety during the ongoing spell of heavy rainfall. Authorities have assured citizens that all necessary measures are being taken to address the impact of the weather while maintaining essential services and ensuring that the academic calendar faces minimal disruption. With weather conditions remaining uncertain, officials continue to keep a close watch on developments and have urged the public to follow official advisories until the situation normalises.
