By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 11. 2016 : Odisha government on Monday ordered closure of all government and private schools from Tuesday till April 20 as over half of the Odisha districts is reeling under intense heat wave conditions.

The capital city here recorded its all-time high temperature at 45.8 degree centigrade on Monday.

“All the schools in the state have been asked to suspend the classes from tomorrow till April 20. We will review the heat wave situation on April 20 and take a decision whether to continue with the closure of the schools further or not. If exams are scheduled to be held during this period, school authorities will conduct examinations during morning or evening hours so that the students are not inconvenienced,” Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said.

The Regional Meteorological (MeT) office has predicted that the intense heat wave conditions would prevail at least till April 20 forcing the state government to take the decision to close the schools till that period.

“Temperature is being recorded at the Bhubaneswar observatory since 1952. The mercury breached the 45 level mark during April in 1985. Today, the temperature was recorded 45.8 degrees and the Regional Meteorological office Director has said that the intense heat wave condition will prevail till April 20,” Mohapatra added.

Last month, the state government had directed the schools to conduct morning classes from April 2 till May 1 as heat wave conditions intensified in the state. The schools were directed to conduct classes from 6.30 am to 10.30 am.

As many as 17 stations today recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above.