Bhubaneswar: While the summer vacation in all higher education institutions in Odisha was curtailed to compensate for the academic days lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, the intense heatwave, which continues to scorch the state, prompted the government to suspend UG and PG classes for six days till May 2.
While students and guardians have expressed apprehensions over classes being resumed under present circumstances, Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo on Saturday said that a decision on the extension of college vacation will be taken after a detailed consultation and taking into account the weather forecast in the coming days.
The vacation is being allowed for a brief period from June 1 to June 16 this year.
It is pertinent to mention here that the India Meteorological Department has forecast a slight dip in the mercury level from May 1 due to thunderstorm activity.
On Friday, the MeT office said that the maximum temperature is very likely to be more than 40°C and remain 3 to 5°C above normal at many places in interior Odisha and 2 to 3 °C above normal at a few places in coastal Odisha during the next 2 days.
“There will be no large change in maximum temperature (day temperature) during the next 2 days while the mercury is likely to witness a slight decrease of about 2°C in subsequent two to three days,” it said.
The IMD has issued yellow warning for thunderstorm with lightning for one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhmal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore, Kendrapada on May 1.
Light to moderate rain is also likely to occur at one or two places in coastal Odisha, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri during this period.
On May 2, one or two places in north coastal Odisha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri are likely to experience thunderstorm and lightning. Light to moderate rain is expected at one or two places in coastal Odisha, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi.
On May 3, thunderstorm with lightning are very likely at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Sundargarh. Coastal Odisha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sundargarh, Deoghar, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Boudh are likely to experience light to moderate rain, the MeT office said.
