Govt orders closing down of schools in 3 districts of Garo Hills due to heat wave

SHILLONG, APR 18: The state government has ordered the closing down of schools for three days in the three districts of Garo Hills region for the safety of students and teachers after there was a massive surge in heat wave.

“Schools will be closed in the next three from April 19 to April 21,” Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the advisory was given after there has been a surge in the heat wave in the three districts which include West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.

“This is done to ensure the safety of the students and the teachers,” Sangam added.

When asked, the minister said, “This is a global issue. Changing of the climate and the environment is not avoidable. This is going to impact and affect most of us in the days to come. Not only because of the heat wave but we are also going to face a water crisis very soon as forest cover is dwindling down, and we are living in the world of technology and technology has got lots of impact on our environment.

This is not avoidable but citizens should learn to adapt to how to live in such a world.”

According to him, the environment is a subject which everybody has to be aware of.

In their orders, the district administrations of West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills had declared that all primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary schools to remain closed during the day from April 19 to April 21 to ensure safety and well-being of students, teachers and staff and as a precautionary measure to the risk of heat stroke, dehydration and other related illness.

Evening/night schools will remain functional as it is.

“The heat wave conditions are a matter of concern, and the risk of heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related illness cannot be ignored. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, all concerned authorities, including the District School Education Officer, are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with this order,” DC West Garo Hills Jagdish Chelani said in his order.

Further, the mop-up exercise for national deworming day is to be done by all institutions on April 24, he said.

By Our Reporter