Independence Day celebrations in schools – students dressed in whites with hues of the Tricolour, attending the school assembly, and participating in cultural and literary activities – on Friday were low-key events or nearly absent, thanks to the forecast of very heavy rainfall during the week.
While some school teachers alerted parents that their wards can attend the flag hoisting ceremony in regular school uniform, others sent instructions not to come to the school and watch the live telecast of flag hoisting at Red Fort.
Several schools in the city, in the districts of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri, were declared a holiday on Thursday. Schools in Hyderabad functioned half day on Wednesday. The School Education Department also instructed a few districts to declare holiday in view of the weather forecast.
According to India Meteorological Department’s prediction, the city was to receive very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Reviews, including by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, GHMC, HYDRAA, the police, and widespread social media communication, had put schools and parents on high alert.
“Usually, we would ask the students to come dressed in the attire of national and freedom fighter leaders. There would be competitions such as elocution, singing and dance, flag hoisting and sweet distribution. But there was no preparation, time or space for that this time,” said a school principal in Secunderabad.
