Severe heat forces AP to shut down schools

In what could be called extended summer, school children in Andhra Pradesh were asked not to come to school till Monday as heat wave conditions continued in the state.

All government and private schools, which reopened after summer holidays, initially closed on Monday last for three days. However, the government on Thursday extended the holidays till coming Monday as the oppressive heat coupled with humidity did not subside.

While the Meteorological Department said return of the heat wave conditions in the middle of June was not an unusual phenomenon, state education department insisted schools were never closed owing to extended heat wave in the past one decade. “There is a possibility of rain on Friday, which might bring down the temperatures,” said MET office director Y K Reddy here.

Stern warning

“This is a weak monsoon, with a long break between two rain spells after the monsoon set in. So, the weather is dry and hot,” Reddy explained. The state is witnessing lull in rains since June 14 after the onset of monsoon in June first week.

With many private schools in the state holding classes defying the state government’s order, the education department issued a stern warning not to run the schools. The unseasonal heat affected agricultural work too, and daily wage earners were put to severe distress with temperatures touching 41 degrees.