Classes Resume in Bengal Schools as Heat Wave Wanes

After a week-long closure due to extreme heat wave conditions, schools in West Bengal have resumed in-person classes on Monday as temperatures began to cool down. A school education department official stated that with the onset of rains, the school closure advisory will not be extended as conditions have improved.

The state government had issued a notification on April 16, announcing the closure of all autonomous/state/central government aided and private schools in the state (except hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts) for a week or until further order due to the heatwave situation. Physical classes at South Point High School and state-run Hindu School have resumed for junior and senior sections as recommended in the notification. The Headmaster of Hindu School also mentioned that classes of senior students will begin after rescheduled tests on April 24 to ensure that they do not fall behind in the academic calendar.

The maximum temperature recorded in the city and its neighboring areas on Monday was 33.8 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees less than normal, and the minimum temperature recorded was 25.7 degrees Celsius, which is one degree less than normal. The maximum temperatures recorded during the heat wave conditions were hovering around 40 degrees Celsius in the city and its neighborhoods, while other parts of south Bengal had recorded maximum temperatures ranging from 37 degrees Celsius to 44 degrees Celsius.