Govt Plans to Shift School Timings, Limit Outdoor Activities, and Possibly Announce Summer Break Amid Kashmir Heatwave
Srinagar, May 21: In response to the intense heat wave currently affecting Kashmir, the government is planning to revise school timings to protect students from extreme temperatures.
This decision follows multiple heatwave alerts issued by various deputy commissioners (DCs) throughout the region. On Wednesday, Baramulla’s district administration released a comprehensive advisory to safeguard public health and ensure a well-coordinated approach among government agencies.
The advisory recommends that the Education Department consider adjusting school hours if needed and suspend outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.
Additionally, the Municipality and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Departments have been instructed to maintain adequate drinking water supplies and carry out regular sprinkling of water in dusty areas.
Amid these developments, several stakeholders have begun urging the government to promptly revise school schedules, citing concerns for student safety during the ongoing heat wave.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Additional Chief Secretary (Financial Commissioner), School Education Department (SED), Shantmanu said the government had been receiving demands from various stakeholders to shift the timing of schools, and the department was working on it.
I have discussed the matter with the Director of School Education Kashmir and have asked him to work out a plan to prepone the school timings, he said.
Shantmanu said that within a day or two, the department would make a final decision regarding the change in school timings.
In case the heat wave persists, then we may announce summer vacation for a few days. Nothing has been finalised yet regarding the announcement of vacation, but in case the heat wave persists, then we may think about it. Things are being worked out, he said. Shantmanu said once the timing is changed, schools can do away with holding morning assemblies open for a few days. (GK)
