Daijiworld Media Network - Ranchi

Ranchi, Oct 28: The Jharkhand government has ordered the closure of schools in four districts until October 29 following rainfall triggered by cyclone Arnab, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday, officials said.

The district administrations of Ranchi, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum and Simdega announced that schools would remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone struck the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm, packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph. The landfall process began around 1.20 am.

Ranchi, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum have been experiencing intermittent rainfall since Tuesday night under the influence of the cyclone.

An official statement said academic activities for students from kindergarten to Class 12 would remain suspended in all government, government-aided and private schools across Ranchi district on October 28 and 29.

Abhishek Anand, Deputy Director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, said light rainfall had been reported in several districts since Tuesday night due to the accumulation of cyclonic clouds.

“The major impact of the cyclone will be visible over Jharkhand between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday,” he said.