Schools shut in Bihar as death-toll crosses 100 amid heatwave
As Bihar continues to reel under rising mercury, all government and government-aided schools in the state have been ordered to remain shut till June 22. The directive comes as a precautionary measure in light of the extreme Heatwave prevailing in the state. Reportedly, over a hundred people have died in Bihar due to the severe weather. Here are all the details.
Heatwave likely to continue till June 22: MeT Dept official
The death toll amid Bihar's scorching heatwave has crossed a 100 in south-west districts like Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Rohtas, The Hindu reported. Hence, the Bihar government directed that schools would stay closed until June 22. "Heatwave is likely to continue in these districts until June 22...after that some showers may bring some relief," Anand Shankar, a MeT department official, told the publication.
Bihar Education Project Council's letter to all state District Magistrates
In Patna, government and private schools shut till June 19
Earlier, schools were scheduled to reopen on June 17. In Patna, district magistrate Kumar Ravi ordered all schools, government and private, to remain shut till June 19. On June 9, he had ordered the closure of schools till June 16, PTI reported.
Amid heatwave, CrPC Section 144 imposed in Gaya
Bihar's Gaya district is one of the worst-hit regions by the heatwave. Reportedly, in Gaya alone, over 60 people have died due to the heatwave, forcing the administration to enforce Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, banning day-time gatherings. According to Skymet, temperatures touched 45.8 degrees in Gaya and Patna on Saturday and Sunday- the highest in the country on the weekend.
State Health Minister Mangal Pandey requests people to stay indoors
"All precautions are being taken at the hospital and we've requested people not to venture out of their home in the day time," State Health Minister Mangal Pandey told reporters when he visited a government hospital in Gaya to take stock of the situation.
Nitish Kumar govt announced Rs. 4 lakh compensation for deceased
Meanwhile, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expressed his concern over the deaths due to severe heat. A compensation of Rs. 4 lakh was announced to the kin of the victims of the killer heatwave. Those below poverty line are also being given Rs. 20,000 each to conduct last rites. Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan deemed the deaths "unfortunate" and advised people to stay indoors.
Bihar also suffering from AES outbreak
Additionally, Bihar has also been bearing the brunt of an Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak, which has killed over a 100 children, ANI reported on Monday. Meanwhile, the recent country-wide doctors' strike, called by the Indian Medical Association, only made matters worse for the state.
