School timings were changed in Himachal Pradesh after the IMD issued a heatwave alert for several districts in the state on Sunday.
Himachal School Timings: Authorities in Himachal Pradesh Monday announced changes in the state’s school timings, day after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a heatwave alert for eight out of 12 districts in the state– barring Shimla, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti.
As per an order issued by the state’s Directorate of Higher Education, all schools in Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area of Solan, and Poanta sahib and Nahan in Sirmaur district, have been ordered to change class timings from 7.30 AM to 1 PM.
Director Higher Education department, Amarjeet Sharma, told news agency PTI that instructions have been issued to educational institutions to adjust timings in wake of the heatwave alert.
In a notification issued on Monday, Sharma said that these areas are experiencing unprecedented rise in the maximum temperature up to 45 degree Celsius and students are facing difficulties due to the harsh weather conditions.
New school timings
In Kangra, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa announced that classes will now start at 7.30 am and end at 1 pm in the afternoon.
The new timings will apply to all sub-divisions of Kangra district, except Dharamshala, Baijnath, Jaisinghpur, and Palampur and will remain in effect until further notice, Bairwa said, adding that schools have been advised to avoid any outdoor activities during this period and ensure proper drinking water availability for students, Bairwa said.
Meanwhile, in Bilaspur district schools will now begin at 8 AM in the morning and end at 2 PM in the afternoon. As per a notification issued by Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq, the new school timings will come into effect from May 21 (Tuesday).
Bilaspur Regional Manager of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation has also been requested to reschedule the bus timings for the convenience of students and teachers.
Himachal heatwave
On Sunday, most parts of Himachal Pradesh reeled under intense heat as maximum temperatures stayed three to six degrees Celsius above the season’s normal.
Una was the hottest in the state on Sunday with the maximum temperature reaching 44.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Neri recording 44 degrees Celsius, Bilaspur 42.4 degrees Celsius, Dhaula Kuan 41.9 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 40.3 degrees Celsius, Berthin 40.2 degrees Celsius and Kangra 40 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological centre in Shimla on Sunday issued a yellow alert for heat wave for the next four days.
The prolonged heat wave can lead to increased hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, and various heat stress conditions, such as heat stroke, according to doctors.
(With PTI inputs)