Heat wave forces Jharkhand schools to close from Friday

Summer vacations in Jharkhand schools for students of pre-nursery to class eight will begin from April 29, an official said on Wednesday.

Jharkhand Education Secretary Ardhana Patnaik had on Tuesday ordered the closure of schools from April 28 due to the intense heat.

However, representatives of schools met Ranchi district officials on Wednesday and requested for the implementation of the order from Friday.

"Schools have taken special permission from the education department to let schools function on Thursday. Students of pre-nursery to class eight will go on summer vacation from April 29," a message from school managements to parents of students said.

Students of Class VIII to XII will continue to attend school till May 7 from 6.30 a.m. to 10.30 am.

Jharkhand is facing a heat wave and resultant water crisis this year. Mercury in Ranchi has shot up to more than 40 degrees Celsius since the beginning of April.

The maximum temperature has touched around 45 degrees in Jamshedpur, Daltanganj and other parts of the state.

Acute water crisis has hit residents of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Daltanagnj and other parts of Jharkhand.

More than 15 people have died of heat wave, including a schoolgirl who died of sunstroke in Ranchi on Monday.

--IANS

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