BHUBANESWAR:With the weathermen issuing heatwave warning for next 48 hours, the State Government on Tuesday extended the summer holidays for schools till June 25.“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced to extend school holidays till June 25 in the State to give relief to school going children from the extreme heatwave conditions,” the Chief Minister’s Office said while informing that the schools will now reopen on June 26.
Earlier, the government had extended the vacation from June 17 to June 20 due to the prevailing heatwave conditions and the schools were scheduled to reopen on June 21.For the last three days, temperature in many places of the State remained above 41 degree Celsius including Bhubaneswar.The Capital City recorded highest temperature in the State for the third consecutive day though convection precipitation brought down the temperature in the evening. The City which sizzled at 42.3 degree Celsius on Sunday and 42.2 degree on Munday also recorded 42.3 degree Celsius on Tuesday.
Apart from Bhubaneswar, the mercury level of nine other places hovered above 40 degree Celsius. Baripada recorded 42 degree Celsius, while the temperature was 41.9 degree Celsius in Talcher, 41.7 in Angul, 40.8 in Chandbali, 40.5 in Balasore, Balangir and Titlagarh, 40.2 in Dhenkanal and 40.1 degree Celsius in Cuttack.
The Regional Meteorological Centre here said heatwave to severe heatwave condition is likely to prevail in some parts of the State, especially in the interior pockets for next 48 hours.They, however, said during next 24 hours, rain and thundershower may occur at one or two places in the coastal pocket similar to the short-spell of rain that Bhubaneswar witnessed Tuesday due to difference in local weather patterns. The southwest monsoon that touched Odisha on June 8, weakened immediately and is unlikely to strengthen before June 23.Speaking to The Express, Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar HR Biswas said, “The monsoon is expected to revive and strengthen between June 23 and 25.”