With heatwave conditions continuing in most parts of Odisha, the state government today directed schools to conduct classes in morning, from April 2.
The school authorities will be told to maintain class timing between 6.30 AM and 10.30 AM, Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the state's preparedness to tackle the situation.
The schools have also been asked to conclude the examination process by April end, he said, adding the government has also instructed not to engage labourers between 11 AM and 3.30 PM from April 1.
Mohapatra said the government has decided to open special wards in all hospitals across the state to treat heat stroke patients and not to go for power cuts at installations providing emergency services till the mercury goes down.
Meanwhile, a release from IMD office said the temperature in Bhubaneswar dropped by five degress today and recorded 37.5 degrees Celsius compared to the March high of 42.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.
The industrial township of Titlagarh recorded 41 degrees Celsius, while another western Odisha district of Bhawanipatna registered 39.5 degrees Celsius followed by 39.1 degrees Celsius in Sambalpur and 39 degrees Celsius in Bolangir.
Almost all the towns in the state recorded temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius, it added.
