Jharkhand reels under intense heat; school timings changed

Due to the intense heat being experienced in Jharkhand, the state government has changed school timings from April 19-25. According to an order issued by the education department, students from kindergarten to class 5 will attend schools from 7 am to 11 am, while senior pupils will continue classes till noon. The order also stated that prayer meetings or sports will not be conducted under the sun during this period, but mid-day meals will continue. This decision comes after the Indian Meteorological Department issued a heat wave alert for 11 districts on April 18 and 19, with many parts of the state recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

The health department has issued an advisory asking people to drink adequate water, wear light-coloured, loose and cotton clothes, and cover their heads with a cloth, hat, or umbrella when venturing out of their houses.

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court has directed the state government to ensure that there is no scarcity of water in Ranchi during the summer months. The court has warned of strict action against the government if water bodies in the state capital are found to be encroached upon. The court has directed that encroachments around water bodies need to be removed to ensure that the natural flow into the water bodies is not obstructed. The court has disposed of several public interest litigations on water scarcity and encroachment of water bodies, including a petition filed by Advocate Khushbu Kataruka highlighting the plight of Ranchi Lake in the heart of the capital. Several orders have been passed by the high court directing the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and the state government to ensure that the Ranchi Lake and other water bodies are cleaned in a routine manner to ensure water supply.