Odisha extends school holidays due to heat wave

The Odisha government on Tuesday extended school holidays till April 26 due to the prevailing heat wave conditions in the state.

Earlier, the state government had announced closure of schools till April 20 in view of the intense heat sweeping the state.

"The state government has decided to close down the schools till April 26 due to heat wave in the state," said a release of the chief minister's office.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the drinking water supply situation to rural areas.

The state government has also decided to provide mid-day meal (MDM) to the school students in 27 drought affected districts during the holidays.

It would provide mid-day meal in about 36,000 schools and has made budgetary allocation of Rs.81 crore.

The heat wave continued in the state even as the coastal Odisha recorded a marginal fall in temperatures.

"Though there will be a slight dip in temperature in interior Odisha, the temperature will gradually rise in next 48 hours with severe heat wave condition in the next three days from April 21," said Bhubaneswar Met Office director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said the department has received reports of death of 45 people allegedly due to sunstroke.