The Odisha government has decided to postpone the Chief Minister’s public grievance hearing program scheduled for Monday due to the intense heatwave conditions prevailing across the state. The General Administration and Public Grievance Department of Odisha conveyed this decision through an official statement on Sunday. Applicants who had previously registered online to present their grievances in person need not re-register for the next hearing in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha is currently experiencing extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in various parts of the state, including the capital city of Bhubaneswar. Jharsuguda, a key industrial center in Odisha, recorded the highest daytime temperature in the state at 43.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sambalpur at 42.8 degrees Celsius, Rourkela at 42.6 degrees Celsius, and Hirakud at 42.4 degrees Celsius.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has forecasted minimal changes in maximum temperatures over the next few days, with a subsequent decrease of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in Odisha. In response to the heatwave, people have been staying indoors, leading to deserted roads post 11 a.m. Additionally, the state government has suspended census activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to ensure the safety of enumerators.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an early summer vacation for schools starting April 27, considering the severe heatwave conditions prevailing in Odisha.
