JOIN USAn unseasonal heatwave sweeping across coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of Telangana has forced five districts to keep schools shut or declare half-day, to protect schoolchildren from the sweltering heat.
Severe weather conditions have hit Krishna, Guntur, east and west Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Khammam, Medak and Nalgonda districts of Telangana.
Rentachintala and Bapatla of Guntur district registered the highest temperature of 42-44 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
“Considering the unprecedented heat, we might have to close down schools till the end of the month,” Guntur collector Vinod Kumar said, adding that all schools will have to adhere to the directive for two days, with no exception for private schools. “There is a steady stream of patients with heatstroke symptoms. Most of them are children and senior citizens,” said Dr Vijayasaradhi of the Guntur Government hospital.
Educational institutions have been shut in east Godavari district as well. The district education officer said stringent action will be initiated against schools that do not follow the order. People have been told to avoid stepping out of their homes.
In Krishna, west Godavari and Visakhapatnam, parents have been advised to use their discretion in sending wards to school. The authorities have asked schools to cover up the loss by working on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the Met office in Visakhapatnam cautioned that there may not be any change in heatwave conditions for at least 48 hours.