Heatwave: Lucknow, Patna, other districts change school timings; state-wise updates

NEW DELHI: While the country is reeling under heatwave conditions, several districts across the country have changed the school timings as a respite, or have been ordered shut. Tripura, Odisha and West Bengal have ordered the closure of schools and colleges and Patna, Prayagraj and Lucknow have changed the timings of the schools.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government's Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked the schools to take appropriate measures to protect children from heat-related illnesses. The measures suggested by the directorate include avoiding assembly in schools during the afternoon shift, availability of drinking water, extra water breaks during classes and sensitising students to cover their head during direct exposure to sunlight.

Heatwave 2023: Here’s updates from across the country

The Patna district administration has restrained academic activities in schools after 12:45 pm in view of heatwave. All classes including pre-schools and Anganwadi centres will function till 12:45 pm only. The district magistrate asked all schools to follow the order starting from today, April 19.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in view of the heatwave conditions, classes in all schools including primary, pre-primary, government, aided and private from Class 1 to 8 will function from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm and Class 9 to 12 will start at 7:30 am and will continue till 1:30 pm.

For schools in Prayagraj, the school timings for students of Classes 1 to 8 have been changed. The revised school timings now are 7 am to 12 noon.

As a respite to the heatwave in Odisha, the government has ordered the closure of all schools and anganwadi centres on April 19 and 20. Morning classes were being held in the schools from 7 am to 11 am.

All government schools in Tripura are closed till April 23 due to the prevailing heatwave conditions.

Schools and colleges in West Bengal have been ordered to shut down in view of the severe heatwave conditions in the state.

The summer vacation in West Bengal government-run and aided schools have also been brought forward. The summer vacation will begin on May 2 instead of the earlier schedule of May 24 in the wake of sweltering heat across the state.