Heatwave: Authorities change school timings in Patna

Patna: following a severe heatwave in Bihar, which surpassed 42 degrees Celcius on Saturday, the Patna district changed the timings of school there, PTI reported.

Met Department informed that at least 11 places marked mercury levels more than 42 degrees in the state. While Sheikhpura district recorded the highest temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius, Aurangabad registered 43.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Jamui and Nawada (43.2 deg C each), Gaya (43 deg C), Bhojpur (42.7 deg C), Dehri and Banka (42.6 deg C each), Khagaria (42.5 deg C), Patna (42.2 deg C) and Madhubani (42 deg C).

The district magistrate of Patna, Shirsat Kapil Ashok's order read, "all schools in the state capital are instructed to change the timings... from 6.30 am to 11.30 am".

"... I, under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, do hereby prohibit the academic activities for all the Classes (up to 10th class) of Private and Government Schools (including Pre-schools, Anganwadi Centres) of the District from 11.30 am to 4 pm."

"The school authorities are hereby directed to reschedule their timings of academic activities in conformity of the order... and it will remain effective till April 30," an official order read.