Odisha government has announced summer vacations for all schools in the state starting from April 25 due to the scorching heatwave. They’ve also adjusted school timings to run from 6:30 am to 10:30 am from April 22 to 24. This decision follows a three-day closure earlier in April when temperatures soared above 45 degrees Celsius.
As of Sunday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded was 43.6 degrees Celsius in Jharsuguda and Keonjhar towns. Other places like Hirakud, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Chandbali, and Balasore saw temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, according to IMD scientist Umashankar Das.
On Saturday, many parts of Odisha sizzled under severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures crossing 43 degrees Celsius in 10 places. Boudh and Baripada topped the list with a scorching 45.2 degrees Celsius.
Nuapada followed closely at 44 degrees Celsius, while Talcher and Balangir recorded 43.6 degrees Celsius each. Other places like Nayagarh, Angul, Keonjhargarh, Jharsuguda, and Hirakud also experienced intense heat.
The IMD predicts no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 24 hours in Odisha. An ‘orange’ warning has been issued, indicating the likelihood of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in certain districts.
Speaking to the media, Manorama Mohanty, director of IMD Bhubaneswar, highlighted the persisting heatwave conditions across the state and issued warnings for specific areas.
The state government had previously announced a school closure from April 18 to 20 based on IMD forecasts, issuing a yellow alert for several districts. Meanwhile, parts of neighboring Uttar Pradesh are also grappling with high temperatures, reaching close to 43 degrees Celsius.
A heatwave, characterized by abnormally hot weather, brings prolonged periods of extreme heat, often accompanied by high humidity. It’s measured concerning the usual climate of the area and normal seasonal temperatures.
