BIRGUNJ, JUNE 13

The Birgunj Metropolitan City has decided to close schools for three days, as the excessive heat continues to affect life in the Tarai.

The metropolis has made a decision to give summer holiday from today till June 16 to the community and institutional schools within its jurisdiction.

Chief Administrative Officer of Birgunj Metropolitan City, Matrika Bhattarai, said the summer holiday has been extended by three days, keeping in mind the children's health since the heat is increasing in the Tarai region and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast this trend could increase even for some more days.

As he said, before this, the metropolis had directed the schools to finish classes by 10.30 am. But it had to give summer holiday after the students started falling unconscious even when classes were run in the morning, hence the extension of the summer holiday by three days.

A meeting of the Metropolitan City's Education Committee on May 27 had given summer holiday from May 29 to 31.

There are 92 community and 138 private schools within Birgunj metropolis. Among the 92 community schools, 21 are secondary, 15 basic, 55 primary and one pre-primary school.

The maximum temperature in Birgunj on Wednesday was 38.7 degrees Celsius. The Department of Meteorology has urged for precaution, as there is the possibility of excessive heat in the central and western Tarai region.