THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister R Bindu has announced that the Higher Education Department has issued an order declaring holidays for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, under the department till May 6 in view of the heatwave.

Classes for technical school students under the department should be completely avoided on these days. Daytime training, parade, drill etc. of NCC and NSS should also be avoided. There will be no change in pre-scheduled exams. The minister also informed that in case the state continues to experience heatwaves, clean drinking water and ventilation in classrooms should be ensured in educational institutions and examination halls.

Due to the possibility of heatwaves, there will be no classes till May 6 for students of all government and private institutions under the health department, medical education department and AYUSH department of the state. Officials said that there will be no change in pre-scheduled exams.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Authority meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also decided to avoid daytime parades and drills in the training centres of police, fire force, SPC etc.

Workplaces roofed with asbestos and tin sheets should be closed during the daytime. People living in such houses, including migrant workers, should be shifted to camps. People should avoid getting their bodies exposed to direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm. Construction workers, farmers, fishermen, hawkers, and those engaged in other hard work should adjust their working hours accordingly.

Fire audits should be conducted in fire-prone areas such as markets, buildings, waste collection depots etc. Safety precautions should be taken. Fire audits of hospitals and major government institutions should be done immediately.