Heatwave alert: School timing revised in Odisha

Bhubaneswar : Owing to the intense heat wave conditions prevailing across the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has instructed officials to revise the operating hours of Anganwadi centres as part of efforts to address heatwave concerns.

After a review meeting on heatwave mitigation, he ordered that Anganwadi centres operate from 7-9 am to ensure the safety of children.

Majhi also directed the Education Department to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting morning classes in schools. To reduce power disruptions, he instructed the Energy Department to avoid power cuts from 11-5 pm and 9-6am during the summer months.

The Chief Minister urged District Collectors to take an active role in heatwave mitigation efforts and ensure that district officials conduct field visits in rural areas. He also announced revised timings for district-level grievance cells, which will now operate from 7-10am to accommodate the challenges posed by extreme heat.

The Chief Minister proposed the installation of shaded structures at traffic points in urban areas and the establishment of shade and drinking water facilities at rural bus stands to help people cope with the soaring temperatures.