Srinagar, March 7 (NationPress) After an extended winter break of three months, schools throughout the Kashmir Valley resumed operations on Friday, reviving energy, happiness, and excitement for over 9,000 government and private educational institutions in the region.

Due to insufficient heating facilities and other essential provisions to safeguard children during the severe winter conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, officials were compelled to close schools for a prolonged winter break.

As school buses emerged on the streets of Srinagar and other towns in the Valley early Friday morning, it appeared as though life and vibrancy had returned to the typically quiet region.

Parents were spotted waiting at bus stops alongside their eager children, ready to assist them in boarding the school buses transporting students across Srinagar and surrounding areas.

Schools displayed a festive ambiance as teachers welcomed students with affection and warmth. Initially, schools were set to reopen on March 1; however, due to snowfall and adverse weather conditions on February 28, the winter break was extended to March 7 by the relevant authorities.

On Friday, students were seen embracing and greeting friends and classmates as they re-entered the familiar routines of classes and activities after being confined to their homes for three long months due to the biting cold.

The holy month of fasting, Ramadan, is currently observed in the Valley, and since children are not required to fast from dawn to dusk, parents provided their children with small lunch boxes to stave off hunger and the chill.

Although the weather has improved across the Valley, a chilly breeze continues to sweep down from the snow-covered mountains surrounding Srinagar and nearby towns.

sq/rad