Heat wave: MP Govt. orders schools to be shut by 1 pm

With several regions of the state reeling under the severe heat wave conditions, the Madhya Pradesh Education Department on Friday issued directions for all schools to be shut down by 1 p.m. to save the students from the scorching afternoon sun.

Facing third consecutive drought, the entire Bundelkhand region is facing severe heat wave conditions with temperature hovering between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal.

In the last few days, Khajuraho has emerged as the hottest in the state with temperature touching as high as 42.4 degrees Celsius last Saturday followed by Damoh and Khargone in western Madhya Pradesh, where the mercury hovered at around 42 degrees.

The Bhopal division of the meteorological department had earlier issued a heat wave warning for Sagar, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Panna and Tikamgarh regions of the state.

Last Sunday, Gwalior recorded 41.4 degrees Celsius while Bhopal was hotter at 41.2 degrees Celsius.