BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of severe heatwave conditions prevailing across Odisha, the state government on Tuesday announced to close all schools up to class 12 both government and private and all anganwadi centres on April 19 and 20. The Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) has issued heat wave warnings in several districts till April 20.
The chief secretary P K Jena in a twitter post said, “All government, aided and private schools up to standard 12 and all anganwadi centres in Odisha shall remain closed on 19th and 20th April due to prevailing heatwave condition.”
The decision was welcomed by parents as they demanded that the school timing should be revised due to severe heatwave. In view of the blistering heat the state government had closed down schools from April 12 to 16 and allowed them to reopen from 6.30 am to 11 am. However, parents expressed concern over closure timing of the schools at 11 am when the sun is at its peak. Bhubaneswar on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 42. 6 degree Celsius.
“The temperature had crossed 40 degree Celsius at 11 am today in Bhubaneswar. Even if I pick up my child on a bike the two minutes we stay at the traffic post it seemed like raining fire. I had decided not to send my child to school from Wednesday. Thankfully the government announced holidays,” said Prakruti Panda, a parent.
The chief secretary P K Jena in a twitter post said, “All government, aided and private schools up to standard 12 and all anganwadi centres in Odisha shall remain closed on 19th and 20th April due to prevailing heatwave condition.”
The decision was welcomed by parents as they demanded that the school timing should be revised due to severe heatwave. In view of the blistering heat the state government had closed down schools from April 12 to 16 and allowed them to reopen from 6.30 am to 11 am. However, parents expressed concern over closure timing of the schools at 11 am when the sun is at its peak. Bhubaneswar on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 42. 6 degree Celsius.
“The temperature had crossed 40 degree Celsius at 11 am today in Bhubaneswar. Even if I pick up my child on a bike the two minutes we stay at the traffic post it seemed like raining fire. I had decided not to send my child to school from Wednesday. Thankfully the government announced holidays,” said Prakruti Panda, a parent.
