Chhattisgarh Declares School Holiday as Heavy Rain Causes Flood-Like Situation, CM Sai Urges Safety
The Chhattisgarh government has declared a holiday for all schools across the State on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in view of heavy rainfall that has inundated several areas and cut off villages.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced the closure of all government, private, and aided schools in a post on X on Friday, September 25, 2026, stating that the safety of students is the top priority.
In his post in Hindi, Mr. Sai said, "Keeping in mind the safety of students due to heavy rain in Chhattisgarh, a holiday has been declared in all government, non-government and aided schools tomorrow (September 26). Parents are requested to keep children at home. Everyone is requested to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel."
The Chief Minister said heavy rainfall could lead to waterlogging, rising water levels in rivers and streams, and transportation difficulties in several areas. The decision was taken to ensure children faced no risk, he added.
Mr. Sai also instructed District Collectors to conduct relief and rescue operations with full vigilance in view of flooding and waterlogging caused by continuous rainfall, including in the Bastar division, which comprises seven districts.
"There should be no delay in providing assistance to people in need in affected areas. Keeping the safety of citizens as the highest priority, the administration should remain prepared to deal with every situation," a statement quoted Mr. Sai as saying.
He directed officials to monitor the situation, with special attention to villages and settlements in low-lying areas and those near rivers and streams. He asked relief and rescue teams to remain ready with necessary resources and directed district administrations, police, urban local bodies, panchayats, and other departments to work in coordination to provide immediate assistance in any emergency.
He also directed officials to ensure safe shelters, food, drinking water, medicines, and other essential facilities. He urged people not to venture unnecessarily into waterlogged areas or swollen rivers and streams, and to follow the district administration's advisories.
Incessant heavy rain battered several parts of the State on Friday, inundating low-lying areas, swelling rivers, and cutting off remote settlements in the Bastar region.
A rain-related death was reported in Kondagaon district, where a 40-year-old farmer drowned on Friday after falling into a flooded drain while trying to catch fish in a partially submerged paddy field, officials said.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department, between June 1, 2026, and September 25, 2026, the State recorded an average of 1,082.4 mm of rainfall, which is 100.1% of its 10-year seasonal benchmark of 1,081.5 mm. Over the past 24 hours alone, the State received an average of 52.8 mm of rain.
Balrampur recorded the highest rainfall relative to its seasonal average, at 169.4% (1,527.7 mm), while Narayanpur recorded the highest cumulative rainfall, at 1,600.4 mm.
Some districts, however, received below-normal rainfall: Surguja recorded 606.6 mm (75.5%), Jashpur 828.7 mm (79.7%), Kabirdham 672 mm (82.2%), Bemetara 597.1 mm (74.5%), and Kanker 1,110.7 mm (75.9%). Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki recorded 74.7% and Bijapur 78.7% of normal rainfall. Rainfall in Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma, Korba, Janjgir-Champa, Durg, and Rajnandgaon was close to normal.
Chhattisgarh, like many parts of central India, receives the bulk of its annual rainfall during the southwest monsoon from June to September. The State government has urged citizens to stay alert and follow official advisories as the monsoon continues to impact the region.
