Heatwave conditions continue in West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar

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Eastern states had no respite from sweltering temperatures today, as West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar continued to reel under heatwave conditions.

Kolkata recorded the day's highest temperature at 39.6 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal, while the minimum temperature stood at 30.9 degrees Celsius, four counts above the average, the Met office said.

Bankura recorded the highest temperature in the state at 41.8 degrees Celsius, as Diamond Harbour (39.0 deg C), Asansol (40.4 deg C), Burdwan (40.9 deg C) and Sriniketan (41.0 deg C) also witnessed unusually high temperatures, which settled four to seven degrees above normal.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee announced an 11-day holiday for state-run schools' students from June 20 to June 30, owing to the searing heat.

Several private schools also announced holidays till the end of this week, while some tweaked timings to cope with the uncomfortable weather conditions in Kolkata and many parts of south Bengal.

The Council for the Indian School Certificates Examinations called upon principals of all ICSE-affiliated schools in West Bengal "to adhere and comply" to the request of the state government to suspend classes, due to the intense heat.

In Odisha, Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 42.3 degrees Celsius, remaining the hottest place in the state for three consecutive days, the Met Department said.

The second hottest place was Mayurbhanj district, where the mercury settled at 42 degrees Celsius.

With forecast of heatwave for the next 48 hours, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced extension of the summer vacation in schools till June 25 from June 21.

Bihar experienced similar heat with Patna and Gaya recording maximum temperatures of above 41 degrees Celsius.

The Met Department bulletin said Gaya recorded the maximum temperature of 42.0 degrees Celsius, followed by Patna at 41.4 degrees Celsius.