Rain, rain, don't go away

That's what overjoyed students across the city chanted as schools and colleges shut early due to the heavy showers

The city faced torrential rainsprompting schools and collges to shut early yesterday. Institutions conducting examinations too let their students go home before schedule.

"The rains definitely had an impact on our daily schedule," said Dr Vikas Abnave, secretary, Ashoka Vidyalaya at Sadashiv Peth. "Our junior college students had practical exams, but we let them go early by 2.30 pm instead of 5.30 pm."
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Ishita Hiranandani (16), an FYJC student at Wadia College said she braved traffic jams and reached college because she had an exam scheduled for that day. P D Patil, CEO, Sinhgad City School at Kondhwa said, "Fortunately, our exams were held in the morning, so all school buses left on their return journey by 10.30 am."u00a0

"We sent all those who came in auto rickshaws back home. But others attended and we released them at
12.30 pm, instead of the usual 5.30 pm," said Pragnya Korde, a staff member of P Jog High School at Kothrud.

Low attendance
Attendance was hit in those institutions where there were no exams. Dhuval Mehta, (28), a student at Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management, said it was a perfect day to cut class. "The falling rain makes me feel like I am watching the trailer for 2012."

Shayanyani Twisha (24), a student of FYMSc braved all odds and made it to Pune University, only to find that attendance was only 10 per cent and her class had been cancelled.

Ravi Jaiswal, chairperson of UG level at International School of Business and Media said, "We had 80 per cent attendance." Ritesh Shete, a PG student of International School of Business and Management said, "I reached college all drenched. But the attendance was only around 70 per cent."