VIJAYAWADA: The State government has extended the holidays of all schools for two more days due to the hot climatic condition prevails across the State. Earlier, the government had declared three-day holiday for all the schools in the State from June 19 to June 21. Speaking on the issue, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said, “All the schools, including private and corporate schools, should remain closed for the next two days as dry weather condition prevails across the State.
Stringent action will be taken against those schools which are conducting classes on these days.” Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are likely to occur at isolated places in all the districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema in the next 48 hours. The IMD said that Coastal AP may experience high temperatures in the range of 39-41 degree Celsius. Vijayawada, Jangamaheswarapuram, Kavali and Ongole sizzled at over 41 degree Celsius on Thursday, 4 degrees above the normal.
Temperatures in the range of 38-40 degree Celsius were recorded in Tirupati, Nandigama, Kakinada and few other places in Coastal AP. According to IMD officials, heatwave conditions prevailed in one or two mandals in East Godavari district on Thursday. The South West Monsoon has been weak over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. However, since Thursday evening, the climatic conditions over Coastal Andhra have turned cool. State Disaster Management Authority issued lightning strike warning to Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari regions. Heavy rains are likely to occur in the districts Visakhapatnam, Krishna and Guntur regions.