Bhubaneswar: Amid rising daytime temperature, collectors in nine districts have announced closure of anganwadis and all educational institutions, both govt and private, even as the state govt rolled out a standard operating procedure (SOP) to tackle the heat.India Meteorological Department has warned of a severe heatwave in five districts of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balangir, Nuapada and Jharsuguda till April 22.In response, the Sambalpur collector on Saturday announced the closure of schools for three days from Monday, while in Jharsuguda, all schools will remain closed from Monday to Thursday. Similarly, collectors in Nabarangpur and Nuapada have ordered the closure of schools and colleges from Monday until further notice. In Balangir, Boudh, Sonepur and Kalahandi, schools will reopen after three to four days. Mayurbhanj announced closure from April 20 to 24.Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said district collectors have now been empowered to decide on anganwadi, school and college closures based on local heat conditions, instead of waiting for a state-level directive. The move, he said, aims to ensure quicker and more responsive action as temperatures continue to rise.“The state has already prepared an SOP and discussed it with all district collectors. Beyond the SOP, if collectors feel the need to take a decision on school or college closure, or any other matter related to heat conditions, they can do so and seek approval from the govt later,” he said.Pujari added that collectors have also been asked to restrict the plying of vehicles, both passenger and goods, during the peak heat hours between 11am and 3pm in areas experiencing extreme heat.The govt, in collaboration with various organisations and industries, will set up roadside rest sheds equipped with drinking water and ORS packets to help drivers rest and stay hydrated. State and central PSUs are being roped in to provide drinking water and ORS packets to people travelling through the national highways.Pujari further said that, similar to cyclone and flood shelters, the govt plans to establish dedicated heatwave shelters in districts that face intense heat every year.Authorities managing ambulance and fire services have been directed to ensure emergency response vehicles reach destinations within 20 minutes, he added. “Our focus is on zero casualties due to heatwave,” Pujari said.
