All educational institutions in Bengal to remain closed next week due to severe heat: CM Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister has announced that all educational institutions will remain closed next week because of the severe heatwave conditions in the state. She said that children have been complaining of headaches and other heatwave-related health issues, in the last few days after coming back from school.

"All educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities will remain closed from Monday till Saturday next week, keeping in mind the severe heatwave conditions.

"I urge the private educational institutions to do the same during this period," Banerjee told a Bengali news channel.


The CM said an official notification in this regard will be issued soon.

"I will also request people to avoid coming out in the sun from 12 pm to 4 pm," she said.

A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius and 4.5 notches above the season's normal, or if the maximum temperature is simply above 45 degrees Celsius.

The West Bengal government had earlier announced preponing the summer vacation in state-run and aided schools by three weeks to May 2, except in the hill areas, due to the sweltering heat.

Most places in the state have been recording day temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, and the MeT Department has forecast that heatwave conditions will continue till April 19.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city's base station, was recorded at 40.5 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, against 39.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The minimum temperature was recorded at 20 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal, against 20.4 degrees a day earlier.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Sports Complex near Akshardham was the hottest station at 41.9 degrees Celsius.

According to the IMD, the weather conditions are likely to remain the same in Delhi as well over the week ahead.