Bhubaneswar, April 2 The Odisha government on Thursday directed district collectors to introduce morning classes in schools with immediate effect as temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the state.
In a letter, the School and Mass Education Department said that class timings in all government, aided, and private schools will be rescheduled from 6.30 am to 10.30 am.
The order will remain in effect until the summer vacation and will be implemented annually, adding that normal timings will resume after the break.
Collectors have been authorized to reschedule school hours in advance if necessary, depending on weather conditions.
To address conditions similar to a heatwave, the government asked schools to ensure adequate drinking water facilities and repair tube wells wherever necessary.
"A drinking water break will be observed daily with a fixed 'water bell' timing," the department said.
Schools have also been directed to keep sufficient ORS packets and restrict outdoor activities of students.
"All parents should be made aware to ensure that their children carry water bottles. Schools may also allocate time to educate students on heatwave precautions," the letter said.
On Thursday, Jharsuguda recorded a day temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius, while Titlagarh in Bolangir district logged 40 degrees.
The IMD said that hot and humid conditions are expected to prevail at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur districts on Friday.
The weather department has also forecast thunderstorms and lightning in a few places in Koraput, Nuapada, Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Bolangir, and Bargarh districts on Friday.