Schools, colleges closed today

The state government has announced a holiday for schools and colleges on Friday as a mark of respect to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

According to a release from Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s office, all educational institutions — government and private — and public offices will be closed on Friday. Only those involved in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas will work, the release stated.

Based on the Centre’s decision, the state will observe a seven-day mourning till August 22 with the national flag flying half-mast on all government buildings and with no official entertainment programmes.