The Bihar government has decided to close schools due to the extreme heatwave. This decision was taken following the fainting and deterioration of health among many students on Wednesday. Approximately 50 girl students in the schools of Begusarai and Sheikhpura lost consciousness due to the heat, prompting hospital admissions for many.
The exceptional heatwave led CM Nitish Kumar to issue orders to close schools. Schools have been ordered to shut from May 30 to June 8, 2024.
Directives Issued by CM Nitish Kumar
According to information provided by the Chief Minister's office, Nitish Kumar instructed Chief Secretary Brajesh Mehrotra to take appropriate action to close schools, depending on the needs and current situation, to ensure that students' health isn't compromised. The CM also directed the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of the Crisis Management Group for other essential actions in the current context.
The Heatwave Continues to Scorch
Maximum temperatures across the country have been recording above 45 degrees Celsius. In Delhi, the temperature nearly reached 50 degrees (49.9 Celsius), breaking a century-long record. Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are among the states under the grip of the oppressive heat. While many state schools are on summer break, Bihar's educational institutions have continued teaching. On Wednesday, nearly 50 schoolgirls in Begusarai and Sheikhpura fainted in their classrooms due to the heat.
24 Students Fainted in a School in Sheikhpura Due to Heat
The heat in a Sheikhpura school caused such severe health issues for the students that they had to be admitted to the hospital in an emergency. The intense heat caused girls in many schools within the Ariari block of Sheikhpura, including the Mankaul Upgraded Middle School, to faint. Some girls passed out during the assembly, and others in the classroom.
The teachers scrambled to respond to the unconscious students, while the students' family members rushed to the school upon receiving the news. The students were subsequently hospitalized for treatment.
18 Students' Health Deteriorated in a School in Begusarai
In fact, the scorching heat caused nearly 18 girls to faint at the Matihani Middle School in Matihani block, who were then admitted to the Matihani Referral Hospital for treatment. The temperature in Begusarai exceeded 40 degrees, and despite the sweltering heat, all schools remained open.
Around 10 a.m. at the Matihani Middle School, students suddenly began to faint. Initially, the headmaster Chandrakant Singh administered ORS solutions at the school, but the fainting continued, leading to hospital admissions for treatment.
14 girls were taken to the Matihani Referral Hospital for treatment. Headmaster Chandrakant Singh reported that despite the presence of fans, electricity, and a generator system in the school, the heat caused students to lose consciousness. Primary care was given at the school, but due to worsening conditions, all the girls were taken to the hospital for further care.
Upon hearing of the children's illnesses, relatives began arriving at the hospital and the school, resulting in the students being given a midday meal and early dismissal from school around 10 a.m., against government guidelines. While the government insists on keeping schools open in the extreme heat, Dr. Rahul Kumar from the treating hospital said the children fainted due to the heat. The children are being given glucose and ORS solutions, and all are currently receiving treatment.
