Odisha School Timings Changed Due To Heatwave, Morning Classes Begin From April 2 – News18

Last Updated:March 20, 2025, 09:58 IST

Odisha has changed school timings to morning classes from April 2, 2025, due to heatwave conditions.

The Odisha government has changed the timings for all schools in the state due to heatwave conditions. According to the order, the school will hold morning classes starting April 2, 2025. State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday said the ongoing school examinations will end on March 27, and after that, classes will start on April 2.

Pujari said temperatures have already started rising in many places across the state, a month ahead of the usual. The government has also changed the timing for the Anganwadi centres and they will function from 7 am to 9 am during the summer.

“The people of districts like Boudh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Sundargarh are experiencing heatwave conditions. The coastal region is also witnessing humid weather. Keeping the prevailing situation in mind, we have issued instructions to various department and district collectors to take advance steps to deal with the heatwave,” he said.

The collectors have been empowered to take required steps as per the local needs without waiting for approval from the government, he added.

“In the last 10 years, more than 330 people have died due to sunstroke. We have asked officers to take steps to curb sunstroke deaths,” Pujari said.

He said drinking water facilities and rest places will be provided on busy roads.

“The Panchayati Raj Department has already sanctioned Rs 300 crore for new tube wells in areas with drinking water scarcity. If required, more funds will be allocated,” he said.

The Energy Department has been asked to avoid power cuts between 11 am and 3 pm, and from 9 pm to 6 am, he added.

In the past 24 hours, Bolangir town in western Odisha recorded a scorching temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest location in the state.

Nearby Titlagarh saw temperatures of 40.5 degrees Celsius, while Jharsuguda recorded 40.8 degrees and Sundargarh reached 40.1 degrees.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted thunderstorms with lightning and issued an orange warning for Thursday for the districts of Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Keonjhargarh, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Sundargarh.

A yellow warning has been issued for Sambalpur, Deogarh, Boudh, Angul, and Jajpur districts.

The IMD has indicated that these areas are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds.

(With PTI inputs)