Puri, Jul 15: The Puri district administration has declared a holiday for all schools on Tuesday in view of intense rainfall and ongoing thunderstorm activity across the district.

District Collector Chanchal Rana announced the closure of all government, private, and aided educational institutions, from Shishu Batika (Anganwadi) to Plus II, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students amid the adverse weather conditions.

The decision comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast continued moderate rainfall and thunderstorms over Puri for several hours.

According to the IMD's 7:00 am nowcast issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, the district is expected to experience a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain and thunderstorms until 1:00 pm. The maximum temperature is likely to remain between 25°C and 27°C, while humidity levels are expected to stay extremely high, ranging between 85% and 95%.

Weather data recorded at 5:30 am showed the temperature at 25.0°C with 92% relative humidity, indicating highly moist atmospheric conditions conducive to continued rainfall.

The district administration has advised residents to remain cautious and follow weather advisories as the inclement weather persists.