Heat wave Shuts Schools In Jharkhand, Kills 8 In Orissa

Ranchi: The ongoing heat wave across the country is only escalating, with Orissa and Jharkhand being among worst victims.

Summer vacations in Jharkhand schools for students of pre-nursery to class eight will begin from April 29. Jharkhand Education Secretary Ardhana Patnaik had on Tuesday ordered the closure of schools from April 28 due to the intense heat. However, representatives of schools met Ranchi district officials on Wednesday and requested for the implementation of the order from Friday. Students of Class VIII to XII will continue to attend school till May 7 from 6.30 AM to 10.30 AM. Jharkhand is facing a heat wave and resultant water crisis this year. Mercury in Ranchi has shot up to more than 40 degrees Celsius since the beginning of April. The maximum temperature has touched around 45 degrees in Jamshedpur, Daltanganj and other parts of the state. Acute water crisis has hit residents of Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Daltanagnj and other parts of Jharkhand. More than 15 people have died of heat wave, including a schoolgirl who died of sunstroke in Ranchi on Monday.

Meanwhile, People in Orissa on Wednesday continued to reel under the blistering heat wave as 17 places recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. The government confirmed the death of eight people due to sunstroke. The highest temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius was recorded at Subarnapur, followed by Talcher at 45 degrees and Angul at 44.7.The state government received reports of deaths of 112 people due to sunstroke, the special relief commissioner’s office said. As many as 542 tankers have been engaged and 1,234 plastic water tanks placed to meet the requirement of water in urban areas. Similarly, 955 tankers have been engaged for supply of water in rural areas.