Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The state government of Odisha issued an order on Tuesday to close all schools and institutions till further notice, beginning on Wednesday, April 23, due to the extreme heatwave conditions that are currently affecting the state. In response to an instruction from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari made the announcement.
Minister Pujari explained that even with the closure, continuing exams will go according to plan. Both public and private educational institutions are subject to the decree, and noncompliance by private schools would result in severe consequences. Hostel boarders are not have to leave their hostels, the minister reassured them.
The announcement comes as temperatures soared across the state, with Jharsuguda recording 44.8°C by 2:30 pm on Tuesday. Other severely affected areas included Sambalpur (44.2°C), Hirakud (44°C), and Rourkela (42.2°C).
