Kolkata: Due to the extreme heat, the West Bengal government has decided to start the summer break for state-run schools earlier than planned. Initially scheduled for May 5, the break will now begin on April 22, according to state officials. However, schools in the hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts will continue with their regular academic schedule until further notice.
The decision was taken after Panagarh in West Burdwan district registered the state’s highest temperature at 42.5°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heatwaves spreading to more districts in south Bengal over the next two to three days.
Areas like Dum Dum, Midnapore, Bankura, Salt Lake, Canning, Kalikunda, Burdwan, Asansol, Purulia, Jhargram, and Balurghat, have seen daytime temperatures crossing 40°C. In Kolkata, temperatures reached 39.4°C on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of unusually high temperatures.
The IMD forecasted light to moderate rain in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. They also stated that dry winds from the west and northwest, along with strong sunlight, will continue to cause heatwave conditions in south Bengal until April 20.
Additionally, heatwaves are forecasted for districts like East and West Burdwan, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, East and West Midnapore, Birbhum, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas in the coming days.
