Bengal govt orders state schools to close on June 13, 14 due to heatwave
Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast a change in weather conditions in South Bengal, with the possibility of thunderstorms and rain in several districts from June 12 onwards
Written by Tanusree Bose
Kolkata | June 12, 2025 02:12 PM IST
3 min read
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With temperatures soaring across several districts of West Bengal, the state School Education Department issued a notification suspending teaching activities in all government, government-aided and government-sponsored schools. (File Photo)
With temperatures soaring across several districts of West Bengal, the state School Education Department on Wednesday issued a notification suspending teaching activities in all government, government-aided, and government-sponsored schools on June 13 and 14.
The official notice read: “Considering the prevailing heatwave situation, as reported from some districts, the competent authority has decided to keep teaching-learning activities suspended in all the government aided/sponsored primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary educational institutions in the state (except hill areas) on June 13 and June 14.”
Earlier in the day, state Education Minister Bratya Basu also shared the update on X.
In Malda, which has been reeling under intense heat and humidity, health authorities issued an advisory to local medical teams to remain on alert. A letter to all Block Medical Officers of Health stated: “Ongoing hot and humid weather has been observed in Malda district since last week, continuing as per weather reports. Many school students have been affected by heat-related illness. Immediate medical action is needed at the school level. You are instructed to prepare medical teams and maintain liaison with the Sub-Inspector of Schools in the concerned circle.”
Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast a change in weather conditions in South Bengal, with the possibility of thunderstorms and rain in several districts from Wednesday (June 12) through the weekend.
Light to moderate rainfall is expected in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Nadia, and Murshidabad. The wet spell is likely to continue till Saturday, with a partly cloudy sky and chances of light rain or thundershowers in some areas. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 35 and 28 degrees Celsius respectively. On Wednesday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 32.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 28 degrees Celsius.
Rain is also forecast in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Malda. Heavy rainfall is expected in the hill districts over the weekend, with rainfall likely to intensify further next week.
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Summer vacation in West Bengal schools began early this year — on April 30 — due to the intense heatwave sweeping the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced on April 3 that the vacation would begin early in the interest of students’ well-being.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
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