The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert on Sunday in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana for an extremely severe heatwave for the next five days. The Chandigarh administration has called off all the schools for students by noon from Monday onwards.
HPS Brar, Chandigarh Director School Education has said that due to the “unprecedented heatwave” all the school of Chandigarh will close down by noon until further orders, as reported by the Indian Express.
The IMD had issued an orange alert for Chandigarh until Saturday, but temperatures soared to 44.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, a new high for May in the past 13 years. The IMD advised avoiding outdoor activities from noon to 4 pm.
Temperatures in Chandigarh are expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius in the next three days, while in Punjab and Haryana, they are forecasted to hit 47 degrees Celsius. On Saturday, Chandigarh recorded a high of 43.7 degrees Celsius. Sirsa in Haryana reached 47.2 degrees Celsius, and Samarala in Punjab exceeded 46 degrees Celsius.