Panaji,  Amid a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa government has declared a two-day holiday for schools up to eighth standard.

In view of incessant rains lashing the coastal state, education director Shailesh Zingde has declared a holidays for schools up to eighth standard on July 8 and 9.

Speaking to IANS, Zingde said that the government will monitor the situation for next two days and then decide whether to extend the holiday.

"We will also take a call as to whether the holiday should be extended for schools up to twelfth standard on Friday," he said.

"The Goa unit of India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy to extreme heavy rainfall in both the districts of the state. Keeping in mind the safety of the young students, it has been decided by the competent authority to declare school holidays on July 8 and 9 for students up to eighth standard," he said.