Bhubaneswar: While schools across Odisha will reopen on June 21, collectors of seven districts have been asked to either switch to morning classes or extend holidays in view of the prevailing heatwave conditions.
“As a measure of abundant caution, collectors of Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Angul, Sonepur and Balangir are authorised to shift to morning classes and declare holidays if the situation so demands,” S&ME department Additional Secretary Durga Prasad Mohapatra wrote.
While the IMD has said that conditions are favourable for southwest monsoon’s advancement to the state in two to three days, the coastal districts have been witnessing a dip in the mercury level in the last two days.
On Monday, the mercury soared past 40 degree Celsius at 7 places with Sundargarh being the hottest at 44.8 degree Celsius followed by Jharsuguda (41.6), Rourkela (40.8), Sambalpur, Titlagarh and Jajpur at 40.5 degree Celsius and Hirakud at 40.1 degree Celsius.
The summer vacation was declared on April 21 as the state witnessed sultry weather conditions. The schools were earlier scheduled to reopen on June 19, but the date was extended due to the prevailing heatwave conditions.
