Heatwave: Delhi Govt Orders Immediate Closure Of Schools For Summer Vacation

New Delhi: After an unusually comfortable April, the mercury has been steadily rising in the national Capital.

Having crossed 40 degrees Celsius last week, it has been hovering around the 44-degree mark in the last few days.

On Sunday, the average temperature of Delhi was 44.4 degrees, while it was 43.6 degrees on Saturday. Najafgarh, in southwest Delhi, recorded a scorching 47.8 degrees — — the highest in the country so far this season.

Amid this severe heatwave, the Delhi government on Monday directed private and government-aided schools that have not yet closed for summer vacations to do so with immediate effect, PTI reported.

Delhi government’s Directorate of Education had directed all schools to observe summer vacation from May 11 to June 30 for this academic year.

“However, it has been observed that some of the government-aided and unaided recognised private schools are still open during ongoing severe heat waves. Therefore, all the heads of govt-aided and unaided recognised private schools of Delhi are advised to close the schools for summer vacation with immediate effect,” the government said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the next five days, predicting heatwave conditions in many parts of Delhi and severe heatwave conditions in other areas.

Red alert entails local authorities having to act and take measures to prevent extreme heat-related emergencies.

“A gradual rise by about 2-3°C in maximum temperatures is very likely over many parts of northwest and central India in the next 5 days,” IMD stated.