Odisha Govt advances Classes 1-12 summer vacation to April 21 due to heatwave

NEW DELHI: In view of the severe heatwave situation, the Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered summer vacation for all government and private schools of the state for all classes from tomorrow, April 21.

“The Odisha Government has preponed summer vacation from tomorrow, April 21 for all government, private and Aided Schools for classes up to Class 12 in view of the prevailing heatwave situation,” the official statement read.

Earlier, the state government ordered the closure of all schools and anganwadi centres on April 19 and 20. The school timings for morning classes were from 7 AM to 11 AM.

The heatwave conditions will continue to prevail over several Eastern Indian states like Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha for one or two more days, while the maximum temperatures are likely to dip by a few notches thereafter, the Met office said on Wednesday, the PTI reported.

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

In Odisha, heatwave conditions prevailed at one or two places in the districts of Cuttack, Khurda and Mayurbhanj. Light rainfall, however, has occurred at one place over Nawarangpur district, the report said.

As heatwaves in India are becoming more frequent, some states have changed the school timings to provide some respite. The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi has also asked the schools to take appropriate measures to protect children from heat-related illnesses.