Heatwave in India: Schools closed, Colleges shut, Timings revised; Get latest updates here

State governments across India are either announcing the closure of schools or changing school timings. Read further to know more about states and districts where schools are currently closed or the school timings have been changed.

Heatwave in India: Schools, colleges shut; timings changed

Heatwave in India: With rising mercury, states across India are either announcing the closure of schools or changing school timings. In extreme heatwaves with temperatures touching 45 degrees, education departments are taking measures for the health and safety of students and staff members. While the state government of the National Capital has asked schools not to conduct any afternoon assembly, the West Bengal state government has announced the closure of schools and colleges across the state amid the heatwave.

Read further to know more about states and districts where schools are currently closed or the school timings have been changed:

Heatwave in Maharashtra 

Due to the ongoing heatwave condition, Maharashtra School Education Department announced that all schools affiliated to the state board in Maharashtra will remain closed from Friday, i.e. April 21, 2023. It further stated that schools of other boards can take decisions about closure after considering their curriculum and activities. Except for Vidarbha, schools in the state will reopen on June 15. Those in Vidarbha will restart from June 30, the order said. Read More

Heatwave in Delhi

In the midst of the rising temperature, the Delhi government has released guidelines directing schools to avoid afternoon assemblies due to the possibilities of heatwave effect on the health of children and adolescents. Afternoon assemblies will also not be conducted due to the heatwave. Read More

Heatwave in West Bengal

West Bengal government has announced the closure of schools and colleges, except those in hilly areas (Darjeeling and Kalimpong), until April 24. Read More

West Bengal Class 11 practical exams postponed amid the school closure announced by the WB school education department. The department has released an official notice stating “In compliance with the recent order issued by School Education Department, Govt. of West Bengal regarding closure of the schools for one-week w.e.f. 17.04.2023 due to heat wave all over the state except Hill Areas of Darjeeling & Kalimpong Districts, the undersigned is directed to notify all the Institutions under the jurisdiction of Council regarding the following changes in the schedule…” Read More

Heatwave in Jharkhand

Jharkhand government has revised the school timings for students up to Class 5 amid heatwave in India. The Classes will now take place between 7 am to 11 am. On the other hand, classes for students from Class 6 to 12 will continue until 12 pm.

Heatwave in Uttar Pradesh

Following heatwave conditions, school timings are now revised in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow. While classes from 1 to 8 will function from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, Class 9 to 12 will start at 7:30 am and will continue till 1:30 pm. All schools including primary, pre-primary, government, aided and private will function with revised timings. Schools in Prayagraj as well have changed the school timings for students of Classes 1 to 8.

Amid the rising temperature, Uttar Pradesh Government has changed the school timings for all schools from Classes 1 to 8 due to extreme temperatures.

As per an official notice released on April 25, 2023 the UP Madrassa Timings have also been changed due to the heatwave. Classes will be held from 7 AM to 12 PM. "In the released holiday table of U.P. Madarsa Education Council for the year-2023, the training quota (teaching period) from 01 April to 30 September is from 08:00 am to 02:00 pm and mid-day break from 11:00 am to 11:30 am is defined. In view of the apprehension that the health of the children may be affected due to the prevailing hot winds/heat and excessive sunlight, the orders regarding the operation of the schools will be issued by the District Magistrate/District Magistrate or the district administration from the U.P. Madarsa Shiksha Parishad," stated the official notice issued.

Heatwave in Meghalaya 

Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district administration directed schools to remain closed for three days from Wednesday due to rising temperatures. The order amid rising mercury levels above 37 degrees Celsius in the district, and even touching 40 degrees Celsius in the plains.

"In view of the massive surge in temperatures and to ensure the well-being of the students, teachers and staffers, I have declared that all primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in the district be shut from April 19-21," Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani said.

Heatwave in Odisha

Heatwave in Odisha: Amid the rising temperature and following heatwave conditions across India, the Odisha government has decided to advance Odisha School Summer Vacation 2023. According to an order issued by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, summer vacation for all government and private schools of the state for all classes from tomorrow, April 21. “The Odisha Government has preponed summer vacation from tomorrow, April 21 for all government, private and Aided Schools for classes up to Class 12 in view of the prevailing heatwave situation,” the official statement read. Read More

Earlier, the Odisha government changed timings for schools and colleges amid heatwave in the region. The government directed the schools to run until 11 am. The revised timings for schools and colleges in Odisha were now 6:30 am to 11 am. Earlier it was from 7:15 am to 11 am.

In the wake of severe heatwave conditions prevailing across Odisha, the state government on April 17 announced to close all schools up to class 12 both government and private and all anganwadi centres on April 19 and 20.

Heatwave in Tripura

Just like other states, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Shah has also announced the government’s decision to close all government schools from April 18 to 23 due to the heatwave. All private schools have also been suggested to follow the same. Read More

Heatwave in Patna

Due to the ongoing heatwave in the Bihar region, Patna schools have received directions to close after 10:45 am from April 19 onwards. Earlier, the government had revised the school timings in Patna, i.e. from 7 am to 1 pm to 6:30 am to 11:30 am due to the increasing temperatures. Read More

Why heat is increasing in India?

India reported record temperatures and the hottest February in 2023 since 1901. The number of heatwave days in India is increasing at a rapid pace every 10 years. According to a study, many of the areas in the core heatwave zone, which include north, northwest, central, east, and northeast peninsular India, recorded the highest number of severe heatwaves in the month of May. Experts claim that there are many man-made and geological reasons affecting weather in India resulting increase in temperature.

When will heatwave end in India?

While experts are claiming that the temperature will continue to rise in India in the coming months. It is likely that the weather will improve by the monsoon. In India Heat waves typically occur from March to June, and in some rare cases, even extend till July. On average, five-six heat wave events occur every year over the northern parts of the country.

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