Bhubaneswar: As the state Tuesday turned into a virtual cauldron after mercury crossed 40 degrees Celsius at nine places and weatherman issued heatwave warning from April 13 to 15, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the administration to keep schools and anganwadi centres shut till April 16.
The Met department said nine places recorded above 40 degrees Celsius Tuesday. “Baripada recorded the highest temperature at 41.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Jharsuguda at 41.2 degrees Celsius and Sambalpur at 40.8 degrees Celsius,” it said in the evening bulletin.
While state capital Bhubaneswar saw a maximum temperature of 40.7 degrees Celsius, Titlagarh and Boudh registered 40.5 degrees Celsius. Cuttack registered 40 degrees Celsius, Angul 40.1 and Sundargarh 40, it pointed out.
The weatherman has issued a heatwave warning for several districts, including Balasore, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, from April 13 to 15. “Due to northwesterly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation, the maximum temperature is very likely to rise further by 3-4 degrees Celsius in interior Odisha during the next four days, and at many places in other districts of the state,” it said. Upon his arrival from Japan, the CM held a review meeting here with officials on the heatwave and Covid situations.
“In view of intense heatwave condition, anganwadis and all schools, both government and private up to Class XII, will remain closed from tomorrow (April 12) till April 16,” Patnaik said in an official order. He also asked officials to ensure smooth supply of drinking water and uninterrupted power supply. While reviewing various activities of the Health and Family Welfare department, the CM expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the BSKY scheme which provides free healthcare facilities to nearly three and half crore people of Odisha.
In view of the significance of the scheme, the CM advised the Health department to ensure prompt medical care for all the beneficiaries. Patnaik was briefed about the current Covid scenario in the country in general and Odisha in particular. Officials informed Patnaik that the situation is well under control.
“Government has taken all precautionary measures including a massive awareness programme to contain the outbreak,” they said. The Chief Minister has advised officials to monitor the situation closely, it was learnt.
PNN