National Desk, 17 June: At least 12 people died due to heat wave in Bihar in the last 24 hours, including mostly elderly, even as the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the third consecutive day on Saturday.
The heat wave, particularly in Patna, has also forced the district administration to extend the ongoing summer vacation till June 24.
Very heavy heat wave forecasts have been issued in six districts of Bihar. An orange alert has also been issued in 12 districts anticipating intense heat wave. In the last 24 hours, 23 districts including Patna have witnessed an outbreak of heat wave. Sheikhpura recorded a maximum temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, capital Patna recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius in the last 44 hours.
On the other hand, an yellow alert has been sounded in East Champaran, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad districts of Bihar. The orange alert has also been issued in Patna, Begusarai, Khagaria, Nalanda, Banka, Sheikhpura, Jamui and Lakhisarai. Red alert continues in Aurangabad, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur and Arwal.
It is to be noted that Bhojpur district has recorded a maximum of six deaths due to heat wave. Four of them have not yet been identified. Two people died in Rohtas, one in Nalanda, one in Jamui, one in Gaya and another one in Patna.
The meteorological department has appealed to the public to stay away from the heat wave as the maximum temperature in Bihar is unlikely to drop in the next 48 hours. At the same time severe heat wave continues in south Bihar as well.
In view of this, Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh has taken a decision and ordered that all schools and anganwadi centres remain closed till June 24. Earlier on June 20, all schools were scheduled to open after the summer vacation. But due to the scorching heat and the imposition of a red alert on the issue, the district administration has ordered closure of all schools till June 24.
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