Bhubaneswar: In view of prevailing severe heatwave conditions in many parts of the State, the Government has announced summer vacation for all schools, colleges, Anganwadi centres and Sishubatikas from tomorrow.
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here this evening, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
As per the decision, all government and private educational institutions in the state, starting from Anganwadi, Sishubatika to Class XII, and colleges will remain closed until further order.
However, during this time, the previously scheduled exams will be held on specific dates and the concerned officials have been instructed to take care of this.
It is worth noting that normal life is being hampered due to intense heat waves and excessive increase in daytime temperature in the State. Therefore, the Chief Minister has taken this decision by giving utmost importance to the health of children, officials said.
During this period, dry food will be provided to Anganwadi children at their homes.
Apart from Shri Pujari, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Satyabrata Sahu, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Deoranjan Kumar Singh and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Today, a maximum temperature of 46.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at Jharsuguda, which is the highest in the entire State. Hirakud was the second hottest place of the State with 44.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Sambalpur (44.6), Boudh (44.5), and Titlagarh (44).
The other places which recorded a temperature of above 40 degrees Celsius are—Sundargarh (43.8 degrees), Talcher (40.6), Bhawanipatna (42.8), Bolangir (43.2), Sonepur (43.8), Rourkela (42.8), Nuapada (42), and Paralakhemundi (40).
The IMD has issued heatwave warning for Jharsuguda, Boudh, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Angul, Nupada, Deogarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati for tomorrow.
Warm night conditions are very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Bolangir, it said.
Similar heatwave conditions would continue to prevail in the State for at least another three days, the IMD said.