City totters on verge of heat waveSaturday was hottest day of the season so far, at 43°C

Patna: The city sizzled at 43° Celsius on Saturday, the season’s hottest day, as swirling clouds cheated the residents with false hopes of rains and relief even as Id was celebrated with joy and fervour.

The maximum temperature was 6° above normal as the westerly wind sweeping across the city seemed to be coming straight from a furnace. Roads and streets wore a deserted look and few people chose to venture out before evening.

“We finished Id namaz in the morning and rushed back home due to the heat,” said Asif Raza, a resident of Patthar Ki Masjid locality.

“My family members waited till 5pm to go out to meet friends and relatives on the festive occasion as they did not want to fall ill due to such harsh weather,” he added.

Patna-based India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Anand Shankar said that if the maximum temperature remains 4.6° Celsius above normal on Sunday too, then a heat wave will be declared. On Saturday, Gaya was the hottest in the state with the temperature soaring up to 43.2°C.

Schools shut

The Patna district administration on Saturday ordered the closure of all schools up to Class VIII till June 20 due to heat-wave like conditions prevailing in the city. Directions have also been issued to not hold classes above Grade VIII before 6.45am and after 11am till June 20.

“All private and government schools have to follow the directive and the order would come into force from June 18,” said Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi.

Sources said that many schools were going to resume classes after summer vacation from June 18 and June 19. Students and parents have welcomed the administration’s decision.

Pragya, mother of a Class V student of Loyola High School, said: “The weather is unbearable for the adults. For kids, it is extreme. The district administration has taken the right step by giving closure order for a few more days. Hope there would be some respite in the weather after a few days.”

Pragya’s daughter’s school was to open on Monday.

Courtesy: The Telegraph