Heatwave in Bihar: Patna extends school closure for students up to Class 8 till June 19

Heatwave in Bihar: Patna district schools closed until June 19 due to extreme heatwave. Bihar experiencing temperatures exceeding 44°C in 10 locations, with IMD predicting heatwave to last 2-3 more days. Private schools in Patna extended vacation until June 22.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, ” I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the 3rd time…Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity and respect. Nalanda is a value and mantra…fire can burn books, but it can’t destroy knowledge.”

Heatwave in Bihar

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heatwave conditions will continue for another two to three days.

The Patna district administration extended the closure of schools for students up to class 8 until June 19 due to the ongoing heatwave conditions in the state.

The state is experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius in 10 locations on Monday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heatwave conditions will continue for another two to three days.In an order on Monday, 

Patna DM Shirsat Kapil Ashok said, “All government and private schools in the district will remain closed on June 18 and 19 for classes up to 8th grade.

During this period, teachers and non-teaching staff are required to be present in the school/office and perform their duties.

“Some private schools in the state capital have already extended the summer vacation until June 22 due to the severe heatwave conditions.While Aurangabad logged the highest temperature at 46.9 degree Celsius, Buxar closely followed at 46.6 degree Celsius, Dehri and Arwal at 46.4 degree Celsius each, Bhojpur at 46.2 degree Celsius, Gaya and Bikramganj at 45.4 degree Celsius each, Vaishali and Rajgir at 44.3 degree Celsius, and Nawada at 44 degree Celsius.”

People are advised to avoid heat exposure, stay cool, and prevent dehydration,” said a senior official of the Bihar Disaster Management department.

On April 24, 2024, Saldhar Yadav, a teacher at a middle school in Barhauna, Banka, died from heatstroke.

“Yadav complained of uneasiness and collapsed soon after he arrived at school. He was a victim of sunstroke,” headteacher of the school Anirudh Pandit said.

However, top officials from the state health and disaster management departments have yet to confirm whether these deaths were due to heatstroke or high temperatures.

They indicated that unless postmortem reports confirm heat-related causes of death, it is not possible to establish a direct link.

Health department officials and doctors in public hospitals in Patna, Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and other districts noted that cases of heat-related illnesses have doubled in the past few days.

A senior doctor at Patna Medical College and Hospital said, “The number of patients with sunstroke, dehydration, fever, weakness, and other symptoms due to high temperatures is increasing daily.

”To protect schoolchildren from heatwave conditions, the state government has revised school hours.

Additionally, government agencies have issued advisories with recommended do’s and don’ts and precautions to be taken during hot weather.

IMD Patna officials said extreme to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist in Bihar in the coming days.