Odisha Govt Announces 3-Day School Closure; Heatwave Warning For 16 Districts Today

Bhubaneswar: All schools in Odisha will be remain closed for 3 days from April 18-20 in view of unprecedented heatwave situation, a notification issued by School and Mass Education Department said on Wednesday. 

“Currently, the state government has closed all the schools for three days in view of the summer heat and rising temperature in the state. It has been decided to close all government, government-aided and private schools from April 18 to 20.”

The state has been witnessing blistering heatwave conditions for past couple of days and the warning continues till April 21. The temperature is expected to cross 45 degrees Celsius mark at a few places in Odisha during this period.

Notably, the mercury had soared past 34 degree Celsius by 8:30 am with Bhubaneswar recording 33.64 degree on Wednesday. Bhawanipatna was the hottest at 34.8 degree Celsius.

According to the India Meteorological Department, heatwave conditions may prevail at one or two places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Angul, and Boudh on April 17.

Hot and humid weather is also likely at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts.

Also Read: Blistering Heatwave To Grip 21 Districts Of Odisha 

On Tuesday, 18 places had recorded temperature of 41 degree Celsius or more. Baripada was the hottest place in the state for second day at 43.6 degree Celsius, followed by Nuapada and Parlakhemundi at 42.4 degree Celsius each and Talcher and Boudh at 42 degree Celsius each. Bhubaneswar recorded 41.9 degree Celsius.

The weather agency has forecast a rise in the day temperature by 2-3 degrees during next 2 days due to northwesterly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation.