Bhubaneswar: With heatwave sweeping Odisha, the Balangir and Sonepur administrations on Friday ordered for closure of all schools, colleges and educational institutes from Saturday (April 18).
The order issued by Sonepur Collector Nruparaj Sahu said that all Anganwadi centres, schools, colleges and technical institutes in Sonepur will remain closed for five days till April 22 in view of the heatwave warning.
However, the examinations scheduled during this period will continue and the authorities concerned can reschedule them to morning hours. “The heads of the institutions must ensure proper provision of drinking water facilities and necessary heatwave measures for the students and staff,” it added.
Similarly, Balangir Collector Gaurav Shivaji Isalwar has announced the closure of all educational institutes for four days, till April 21, following a sharp surge in daytime temperature, which has made outdoor movement and classroom attendance increasingly hazardous for students and staff.
The primary goal is to safeguard children and young learners from heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, exhaustion, and heatstroke.
The situation will be reviewed based on upcoming weather forecasts, with a possible extension of the holiday period if extreme conditions persist, he added.
On Thursday, mercury soared to 43.7°C at Titilagarh in Balangir district, making it the hottest place in the state, followed by Jharsuguda (43.6°C), Bhawanipatna (42.5°C) and Sambalpur, Hirakud and Balangir at 42.2°C each. The temperature hovered around 41°C at Rourkela, Sundargarh and Nuapada.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a further rise in the day temperature by 2-3°C during the next 24 hours amid heatwave warning for districts of Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur. The yellow warning of heatwave for several western Odisha districts, including Balangir, continues till April 20.
Balangir, Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts are also likely to experience warmer nights during this period.
Hot and humid conditions may prevail at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati till April 21 amid thunderstorm activity, it added.
