
Kolkata schools likely to prepone summer vacations amid rising Indo-Pak tensions
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday appealed to private English-medium schools across the state to begin summer vacations from May 9, in light of the escalating India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor.
The appeal came hours after the Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoJK, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.
Banerjee said, 'My appeal to the English-medium schools is to declare vacation now, from the day of Rabindra Jayanti (May 9), which is seven days ahead of the scheduled date, in view of the present situation.' She clarified it was not an order but a voluntary advisory to schools that haven't yet declared holidays.
Meanwhile, state-run and government-aided schools in Bengal had already advanced their vacations to April 30 due to the ongoing heatwave.
In a related development, four Kolkata schools — DPS Ruby Park, La Martiniere for Boys, La Martiniere for Girls, and Future Foundation School — conducted emergency evacuation drills on Wednesday. These were overseen by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to assess preparedness amid growing security concerns.
The missile strikes under Operation Sindoor mark one of India's most significant military actions across the border since the 1971 war.
Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
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Connectivity in Singapore is generally top-tier, so you'd expect any major eSIM provider to ride that wave. Both Airalo and Nomad deliver solid performance by tapping into SingTel—Singapore's best-known and most widely used network. Whether I was in the middle of Marina Bay or hopping around Tiong Bahru, I had strong, stable 4G. Even 5G popped up a few times when I needed to upload client files or hop on a video call without scrambling for a café with decent Wi-Fi. Now, if we're getting technical, Nomad might offer slightly better latency—pages loaded a beat faster when I compared side by side. But in real-world, day-to-day use, I barely noticed a difference. I could stream, download offline maps, and send giant email attachments on both. If you're gaming or running high-bandwidth tasks 24/7, maybe that millisecond matters. But for most nomads juggling travel planning, WhatsApp, and Google Docs, both options hold up just fine in Singapore's hyper-connected ecosystem. My go-to travel toolkit includes an iPhone, a Pixel, and occasionally a tablet, and both Airalo and Nomad play nicely with every one of them—no weird workarounds required. Whether you're running iOS, Android, or something in between, installation is a breeze. I've never had to reset a device or wrestle with hidden settings, it just… works. Nomad goes one step further by supporting mobile routers, which can be a game-changer for someone like me who sometimes sets up office hubs in beachside cafés or coworking lounges. If I'm juggling a laptop, phone, and tablet simultaneously, Nomad's router-friendly compatibility means I can spread that connection across all devices. As long as your gear isn't stuck in the SIM-card era, you're good to go with either provider. Airalo wins me over every time with their live-chat support—it's fast, responsive, and surprisingly helpful when I'm in a rush between flights. Plus, the app's interface makes topping up or extending data seamless; I've bounced between 1 GB packs and 20 GB plans in mere seconds, even when sitting courtside at a football match. Nomad's ticket-style support is respectable, but it's more of a waiting game. I'd say it's fine for non-urgent questions, though I've personally hit snags when I needed quick troubleshooting during remote work sprints. For nomads who need answers yesterday, especially when hopping between time zones and deadlines, Airalo's support brings that instant reassurance that Nomad's slower pace just can't match. Feature Airalo Nomad Plan Variety Tiered data (daily/monthly) Unlimited only Price (Singapore 1GB/day) ≈ $1–1.50 ≈ $4 Security Strong, transparent policies Basic, less validated Network & Speed 4G/5G via SingTel Slightly lower latency Devices Supported Phones, tablets, laptops + mobile routers Support Live chat & email Ticket-based email only Ease of Use Friendly UI, easy top-ups Simple install, fewer extras Sometimes it's the small stuff that makes a big difference and Airalo doesn't skimp on the details. For digital nomads bouncing between cafés, airports, and co-working spaces, these features matter: Topping up is fast and intuitive – I've added data mid-Grab ride without breaking a sweat. – I've added data mid-Grab ride without breaking a sweat. Usage alerts – You'll get notified before you run out of data. No more sudden disconnections while navigating Chinatown. – You'll get notified before you run out of data. No more sudden disconnections while navigating Chinatown. Hotspot support – Both Airalo and Nomad let you tether, which is great when you need to fire up the laptop and knock out a few client emails. – Both Airalo and Nomad let you tether, which is great when you need to fire up the laptop and knock out a few client emails. Global plan with phone number – Airalo's Discover+ Global eSIM includes an actual phone number (yep, for real), which is incredibly handy for verification texts, bookings, or making that one important call without digging for a SIM swap. Nomad holds its own with hotspotting and unlimited data but if you value flexibility, smooth top-ups, and those little touches that keep your trip running seamlessly, Airalo's the better travel buddy. After testing both eSIMs across Singapore, Airalo's flexibility, value, and ease of use sealed the deal for me. It offers a buffet of data plans to fit any travel style—whether you're in town for a weekend or working remotely for weeks. The pricing? Super friendly, especially for light-to-moderate users. Then add in strong security, reliable 4G/5G coverage, and fast customer support, and you've got a winner. Nomad's unlimited plan sounds great in theory but for most travelers (especially solo adventurers or remote workers with realistic data habits), it's a bit like bringing a fire hose to a garden party. Bottom line? If you're heading to Singapore and want smart, seamless connectivity without overpaying or overcomplicating things—Airalo's your move. Both are data-only, so you won't get a traditional phone number. But you can still make calls using apps like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime Audio. Yes, and it's especially smooth with Airalo—you can top up in just a few taps through the app. Nomad allows it too, but the process isn't quite as seamless. Airlo offers regional and global plans if you're hopping around Asia or beyond. It gives you more options in terms of destinations and data sizes. TIME BUSINESS NEWS