With each passing day, it is almost becoming unbearable for scores of students as well as their guardians to cope up with the intense heat wave conditions that have been prevailing in Odisha for the past couple of days.
On Friday, the mercury touched 39.8 degree C by 11:30 am in Bhubaneswar and later the maximum temperature touched 43.5 degrees. Under such intense heat wave conditions, the students up to standard 10 are now facing all sorts of problems in returning home after school hours. Not only Bhubaneswar, heat wave conditions have also created problems for students in Cuttack as well.
Though the school timings have been revised and students now need to attend their classes from 7 am to 11:30 am, they are returning home in scorching heat conditions.
The students are seen stepping out of schools wearing caps, covering their faces and head with any available cotton clothing. A lot of students are also carrying ORS packets with them to keep themselves hydrated.
“It is almost unbearable to return home as we get completely exhausted after school hours,” said a student urging a change in the school timing. Another student said, “Inside our class also the fans are moving very slowly. We have complained the teacher about such issues, but nothing has been done so far.”
Not only students, the parents are also facing problems in picking up their wards after the school hours under the intense heat wave conditions.
“My two children are studying in the school. The class of one child gets over at 11:20 while another one comes out at 11:30 am. I have to reach the school by 11 am to avoid rush on the main road. I have to stand under the shade of a tree till both my children come out of their classes. In these 30 minutes, I get completely wet due to excess sweating,” said a guardian.
Another parent said, “The government should order closure of school by 10 am so that the students do not face problems. The parents, who are coming to pick and drop their children on two wheelers, are the worst sufferers.”
Later in the day, the Khordha district administration rescheduled the school timings for all schools (government, private, aided) up to Class 12 and all the anganwadi centres.
As per the order issued by Khordha Collector, the schools will remain open from 6:30 am to 10:30 am until further orders.