KOLKATA: School holidays across West Bengal have been extended by 10 days till month end due to the heat wave that has engulfed large parts of south Bengal.
"The government schools were supposed to re-open on June 20 after summer vacation but will now open on June 30," education minister Partha Chatterjee said. He also requested the private schools to extend their summer vacation due to the heatwave conditions.
ISCE Schools Association president Sujay Biswas said that the matter will be discussed with the schools and a final decision will be taken after that. Many of the private schools had re-opened between June 4 and June 11 but teachers demanded that vacation be extended to avoid risks of children falling prey to sunstroke.
While temperatures are hovering at around 40 to 42 degrees, Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore predicted that the soaring temperatures will continue till the end of this month and only scant rainfall is expected.
Apart from Kolkata, almost all regions of south Bengal including the western uplands to the coastal areas in the southwest are witnessing temperatures seven degree above the normal.
However, north Bengal may witness thundershowers by the end of the week, according to Met department.