Heatwave forces school closures and revised timings across states as temperatures cross 44°C

NEW DELHI: School timings have been revised in several Indian states as an ongoing heat wave pushes daytime temperatures above 44°C in multiple regions. Authorities have introduced precautionary measures aimed at safeguarding students from extreme heat conditions during school hours, with adjustments made to reduce exposure during peak afternoon periods. With weather patterns showing no immediate relief, educational institutions continue to operate under heat-management guidelines to ensure student safety and minimise health risks.The situation has created a wide range of consequences, including the reorganization of the academic calendar, early vacations for summer break, and even closures. Due to abnormal high temperatures, authorities in several regions have initiated actions to ensure the well-being of their students.School timings have been revised in several Indian statesAccording to recent reports in the media, most of the affected states have implemented early morning shifts to ensure that all activities finish before the hottest part of the day.The Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan, Ajmer, announced that all government and non-government schools will operate morning classes for pre-primary to Class 8 from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm starting April 27 until the end of the academic session.Early summer vacations and closures announcedSeveral states have either advanced summer vacations or ordered temporary closures in response to the heatwave. Chhattisgarh has preponed its summer break to April 20 – June 15, nearly two weeks earlier than usual.Summer vacations will commence for Odisha from April 27 in all educational institutions. Schools across West Bengal will have summer holidays from April 22 onwards, except for hills like Darjeeling.Closure of schools has been declared from April 24 to May 1 in Tripura. Schools in states like Jharkhand are advised to close temporarily due to extreme heat prevailing in some parts of the state.Steps taken in schools to ensure safetyFor schools that have not closed, precautionary steps are being taken to prevent any health hazard. “Water Bell” system has been introduced by schools in Delhi and Uttarakhand to ensure adequate hydration among students.Outing, assembly, and outdoor lessons in states like Delhi and Telangana have been restricted between 11 am and 4 pm.Though schools are open for limited hours, teaching faculty in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have to stay back until 1:30 pm.