Heat waves: Maharashtra state board schools to remain closed from Friday

Heat waves in many parts of India is making people's lives difficult. With that in mind, the Maharashtra government said that all schools affiliated to the state board in the state will remain closed from Friday in view of heat wave conditions. The order issued by the School Education Department on Thursday said that schools of other boards can take decision about closure after considering their curriculum and activities. Except for Vidarbha, schools in the state will reopen on June 15.

Those in Vidarbha will restart from June 30, the order said. At least 14 persons died due to heat stroke after attending the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in Navi Mumbai on April 16.

Bhubaneswar sizzles

Not only Maharshtra, but many parts of the country are facing the same fate as temperatures above normal is affecting people's lives badly.

Odisha sizzled with as many as 29 places recording temperature above 40 degree Celsius with Boudh becoming the hottest place in the state with 43.9 degree C, the Met office said.

Boudh in western Odisha was followed by Bhubaneswar (43.2), Talcher and Kendrapara (43). Cuttack city, located in the bank of Mahanadi river, also recorded 42 degree.

While four places recorded temperature at or above 43 degree, 7 stations reported temperature in the range of 42 degree C to 43 degree C. As many as 13 other places recorded temperature in 41

degree and another four places remained in the range of 40 degree to 41 degree.

Meanwhile, the IMD issued orange alert for Mayurbhanj, Jharsuguda, Khurdha and Cuttack districts for next 24 hours for heat wave conditions.

Similarly, yellow warning has also been issued for Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir districts.

(With input from PTI)