Bhubaneswar: With heatwave sweeping Odisha, the Balangir administration on Friday ordered for the immediate closure of all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions from Saturday, April 18, to Tuesday, April 21.
The District Collector issued the directive 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, wi
th a possible extension of the holiday period if extreme conditions persist, it 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.