Heatwave alert: District imposes strict ban on physical vacation classes

PATHANAMTHITTA: The District Collector has issued an urgent directive banning all summer and vacation classes in schools and tuition centres across the district due to the impending threat of a heatwave. While this order strictly prohibits physical attendance, the Collector clarified that it does not apply to online classes, allowing academic activities to continue remotely. This decision comes as the Central Meteorological Department forecasts a significant temperature spike in Pathanamthitta, where mercury levels are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius through April 24. Consequently, a yellow alert has been declared for the district to signal the risks associated with the rising heat.

Across the state of Kerala, the heat is intensifying as the Meteorological Department warns of temperatures soaring as high as 40 degrees Celsius in Palakkad district over the next few days. Other regions are also facing extreme conditions, with Kollam likely to reach 39 degrees Celsius and Kottayam to hit 38 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, several districts including Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod are expected to experience temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius, which is roughly 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm. Thiruvananthapuram is also forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius.

The combination of these high temperatures and high humidity is likely to result in hot and unsettled weather throughout these districts until April 24. While hilly areas may be spared from the most extreme conditions, the Meteorological Department emphasises that the general population should remain cautious and prepared for the prevailing heatwave conditions.