Himachal: School timings changed amid IMD's heatwave warning

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 20 : The state education department in Himachal Pradesh decided to change the timings of the schools for classes 1 to 12 after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heatwave warning for several districts on Monday.
In view of the extremely hot weather conditions, The education department has issued a circular to change the timing from the routine to 7.30 am to 1 pm. The department has given the power to the local authority to make decisions as per the situation.
The department has put all staff and teachers on alert and has directed to provide two breaks and provide appropriate arrangements of water for the students.
"There is a heat wave in Himachal Pradesh, keeping in mind, we have issued a circular to change the timing. The school time would be between 7.30 am to 1 pm. Apart from this, we have directed to give two drinking breaks and additional water will be supplied to all such schools," Amarjeet Sharma, Director of Higher Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh told ANI.
"We have directed that if Deputy Commissioners and SDMs have issued any orders, they may be followed. So far we have not issued any such orders to close the schools," he added.
"As you know the districts in Una bordering areas of district Kangra with Punjab at Nurpur and in Kangra proper it is very hot. In Hamirpur, Bilaspur area also. Yesterday Bilaspur recorded a temperature of 44 degrees Celsius in Paonta Sahib and Sirmaur district specifically the BBN area of Solan district also in Baddi and Nalagarh, which is very hot. We have given general instructions for some parts for the deputy director to have the power to make decisions to change the timing. We have directed to provide water and give two drinking breaks, the students should not face water shortage," the Higher Education director said.
He further informed that the department has not issued any orders for the colleges so far.
"As far as the colleges are concerned the students are undergoing their examination in HP University and some have completed their examinations and in Sardar Parel University the exams are scheduled and we have not intervened and not taken any decisions," Sharma said.
Sharma said that these orders will continue until the IMD heat wave yellow alert continues in the state.
"The timings of elementary and primary schools have different timings, so we have issued general timing from 7.30 am to 1 pm and others can make decisions. We have put all staff, teachers and officials on alert to take care of students in the heat-affected areas," he said.
Earlier on Sunday, the IMD issued a heat wave warning for several districts in Himachal Pradesh for the next 4 days. According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, the heat wave is likely to continue in isolated pockets in the districts of Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh for the next 4 to 5 days.
There is also the possibility of a severe heat wave in the districts of Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan (Nalagarh, Baddi, Parwanoo), Sirmaur (Dhaulakuan, Paonta Sahib), and Kangra (Gaggal, Nupur, Indora, Fatehpur, Dehra, Jaswan) and adjoining areas, the IMD said.
The IMD further said that the average maximum temperatures in the state are likely to increase by 2 to 3 degrees and to remain appreciably above normal during the period.