Somewhere the time changed and somewhere schools were closed, heat is wreaking havoc across the country.

These days, a deadly phase of extreme heat and heat wave continues in a large part of India. In many states of the country, the mercury has reached above 44 degrees Celsius, which is adversely affecting the life of common people as well as the health of school children. Due to the scorching sun, cases of children falling ill and dehydration have started coming to the fore. In view of this serious situation, governments of different states, education departments and district administrations have taken immediate steps and issued new and strict guidelines for schools.

The biggest challenge before the administration is to protect children from the scorching afternoon sun and hot winds which can prove to be extremely dangerous for health. Keeping this in mind, many states have changed the schedule of their summer holidays and started them earlier, while other states have changed the timing of schools to early morning so that children can reach their homes safely before the hottest afternoon sun sets.

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Update of West Bengal and Odisha

In view of the extreme heat in West Bengal, summer holidays have been started from April 22. However, this rule will not apply to schools in cold areas like Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Odisha government has also declared holiday in all schools and colleges from April 27. Earlier the school timings there were from 6:30 am to 10:30 am but now the schools will remain completely closed.

Relief in Chhattisgarh and Tripura

In Chhattisgarh, holidays have been declared from 20th April for the health of children which will continue till 15th June. In Tripura too, in view of the scorching heat, orders were given to keep all government and private schools completely closed from April 24 to May 1 so that children do not fall ill due to heat wave.

Timing of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand

In places like Prayagraj in UP, schools are now opening only from 7:30 am to 12:00 noon. In government schools, children are dismissed at 12:30 but teachers have to stay in school till 1:30 pm. In Jharkhand, the timings for children up to class 8 have been kept from 7:00 to 11:30 am while for older children from classes 9 to 12, schools will remain open till 12:00 noon.

Rules of Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

Schools for children in Patna, Bihar will close at 11:30 am. Even in cities like Ajmer and Kota of Rajasthan, schools are running from 7:30 am to 12:30 noon only. In most of the districts of Madhya Pradesh, there is an order that schools should not be run after 12:30 pm so that children can save themselves from heat wave.

Security preparations in Maharashtra, Delhi and Telangana

In view of the increasing heat in Maharashtra, the timings of schools have been changed and now schools are running from 7:00 am to 11:15 pm only. Schools have not been closed yet in Delhi and Telangana but strict rules have been made there. Schools have been asked not to take children to the grounds between 11 am and 4 pm, meaning sports and assemblies will not take place outside. Parents have also been advised to keep an eye on the new orders of the administration.

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water bell system

To save children from the heat, a good initiative named ‘Water Bell’ has been started in states like Delhi and Uttarakhand. Under this, a bell is rung at certain times during school hours to remind children to keep themselves hydrated by drinking water.