All schools from Classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun district will remain closed on Tuesday, September 1, following an Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning. The one-day closure was ordered by the Dehradun district administration as a precautionary disaster-management measure after the latest weather forecast and nowcast indicated the possibility of intense to extremely intense spells of rain over the next 24 hours.

Which schools will remain closed?

The order covers government, government-aided, private and non-government schools operating Classes 1 to 12 across Dehradun district. All Anganwadi centres in the district are also covered.The District Magistrate and chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority directed the Chief Education Officer and District Programme Officer to ensure that the order is implemented across the district.

Why have schools been closed?

The India Meteorological Department has issued an Orange Alert for Dehradun, warning of heavy to very heavy rain, lightning and isolated spells of extremely intense rainfall. The administration said such conditions could increase the possibility of accidents and other weather-related incidents. The school closure has therefore been announced to reduce risks to students, teachers and staff.

Heavy rain already affecting Dehradun

The closure comes after heavy rainfall caused disruption in several parts of the district. Six rural roads were reported blocked, while rain damaged roads and houses and pushed some rivers close to or above warning levels. The Tons River was flowing above its warning level, while the Yamuna near Dakpatthar was reported to be just below the warning mark. Authorities also evacuated some houses in areas affected by landslides and rain-related damage. Several parts of Dehradun city also experienced waterlogging following heavy rain, with traffic affected on major roads and response teams deployed in affected areas.

Ganga water level rises in Rishikesh

The impact of the continuing rainfall is also being monitored in Rishikesh, where the Ganga's water level has risen. Officials said the river remained below the warning mark, but SDRF, Water Police and disaster-response teams have been deployed at major ghats as a precaution. Authorities have also been using public announcements to advise tourists, devotees and residents to exercise caution around the river and avoid risky activities.

What happens after September 1?

The current order covers one day — September 1. Any further closure will depend on the weather situation and subsequent instructions from the district administration. The wider weather situation remains active, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms expected in parts of Uttarakhand. Parents and students should therefore follow official district-level announcements for any further changes.

The 14th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Working Group on Border Management and Security began in Dehradun on Thursday, with senior officials from both countries holding two-day discussions on cross-border security and management issues. 

The talks are being held at Hotel Taj in Dehradun and are focused on strengthening security along the open India-Nepal border, while addressing cross-border crime, infiltration, smuggling and other criminal activities. 

Cross-Border Crime on Agenda

Officials are expected to discuss measures to tackle cross-border criminal activities, drug trafficking, smuggling and illegal movement of people and goods. Information sharing between security agencies is also expected to form an important part of the discussions. 

The two sides are also reviewing mechanisms for monitoring the movement of third-country nationals and addressing security concerns linked to the open border.

Border Disputes Discussed

The meeting is also taking up certain border-related issues and disputes, including the examination of historical maps, according to reports. Nepal's concerns regarding India-China trade through the Lipulekh Pass are also expected to feature in the discussions. 

Border regulations, encroachments in no-man's land, counterfeit currency and unauthorised trade are among the broader issues that have featured in the agenda of India-Nepal security discussions. 

Review of Previous Decisions

The 14th JWG meeting follows the 13th meeting held in Pokhara, Nepal, on March 27-28, 2025. At that meeting, the two sides reviewed measures concerning border pillars, trans-border criminal activities, border infrastructure and capacity building of security institutions. 

The previous meeting also discussed strengthening infrastructure at Integrated Check Posts, roads and railway networks, disaster-risk reduction and the functioning of Border District Coordination Committees.

Wider Bilateral Engagement

The latest talks come shortly after Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth's visit to Nepal from August 16 to 19. During the visit, he held discussions with senior Nepali officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, with defence cooperation featuring prominently. 

The meetings reflect continued engagement between the two neighbours on security, defence and border-management matters.

Open Border Framework

India and Nepal share a distinctive relationship characterised by an open border and extensive people-to-people ties. The Joint Working Group provides a formal mechanism for both countries to address security concerns arising from this arrangement.

The Dehradun meeting is expected to conclude after two days of discussions, with both sides reviewing existing mechanisms and exploring measures to improve coordination along the border.

What makes the achievement remarkable is that a majority of the selected athletes trained at an ice skating rink built not by the government, but by local villagers themselves.

Of the 11 players chosen for the continental event, six belong to Chiyog and nearby areas in Shimla district. Seven of the selected athletes regularly practice at the Chiyog ice skating facility, which was developed by residents nearly two years ago through community effort.

The team was selected during national trials held in Dehradun by the Ice Skating Association of India. The selected athletes will now represent India at the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy scheduled to be held from August 17 to 20 at the Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The tournament is expected to attract more than 200 athletes from 11 Asian countries, providing young Indian skaters with valuable international exposure.

The Himachal athletes selected for the Indian squad include Tejasvi Kuthiyala, Rudraveer Gangta, Samarth Atri, Divyansh Thakur, Abhas Verma, Advik Jagta, Aradhya Sharma, Anirudh Chandel, Shubham Thakur, Vikhyat Kanwar and Moksha Sharma.

Among them, Abhas Verma, Advik Jagta, Aradhya Sharma, Anirudh Chandel, Shubham Thakur and Vikhyat Kanwar are from Chiyog. Rudraveer Gangta, who hails from Jubbal in Shimla district, also trains at the same facility.

The selected athletes are scheduled to report for a national training camp in Dehradun beginning July 21 before the continental competition.

For many in the region, the achievement is not just about sporting success. It has become a symbol of what community participation can accomplish in remote mountain areas where sporting infrastructure is often limited.

According to officials associated with the sport, the Chiyog ice rink itself is the result of a grassroots initiative. Local residents reportedly levelled a hillside and transformed it into a skating facility after years of waiting for better infrastructure.

The project gained attention across Himachal Pradesh because it demonstrated how a determined community could create opportunities for young athletes despite limited resources.

Ice Skating Association of India Vice President Pradeep Kanwar and coach Ravindra Thakur credited local residents for laying the foundation of the success story. They noted that constructing an ice skating rink without government assistance appeared almost impossible when the idea was first discussed.

The facility has since become a training centre for aspiring skaters from different parts of Shimla district and has helped produce athletes capable of competing at the national and international levels.

The development also highlights the growing popularity of winter sports in Himachal Pradesh, a state better known for tourism and adventure activities than for producing elite ice skaters.

Sports administrators say the selection of multiple athletes from a single rural training centre is a significant achievement and could encourage similar community-led sports projects elsewhere in the region.

With the Asian competition approaching, attention will now shift to the performances of the selected athletes in Dehradun. For Chiyog, however, the selection itself marks a major milestone.

A village that once lacked formal sporting infrastructure has now become a source of international-level talent, offering a rare and inspiring example of grassroots sports development in the Himalayan state.