Chhattisgarh govt advances school summer break to Apr 20, cites ‘severe heatwave’

Schools in Chhattisgarh to shut early from April 20 as heatwave intensifies; revised summer vacation to continue till June 15 across all institutions.

Published on: Apr 16, 2026, 19:59:06 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

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The Chhattisgarh government on Thursday announced early summer vacations for schools in view of the prevailing heatwave conditions across the state.

Chhattisgarh advances school holidays to April 20 amid rising temperatures (Representative photo)

According to an order issued by the state school education department, summer holidays will now begin from April 20 to June 15 for all government, aided, non-aided and private schools. Earlier, the vacation was scheduled from May 1 to June 15.

The order, however, does not apply to teachers.

Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the decision was taken keeping students’ safety in mind. “Ensuring the safety of children during the severe heatwave is our top priority. The summer vacation has been preponed so that their health is not adversely affected,” he said in a post on X.

Officials said the move follows a review of current weather conditions, with several parts of the state recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological centre in Raipur has forecast heatwave conditions in isolated pockets of Bilaspur, Raipur and Durg divisions between April 16 and 19. The maximum temperature is likely to rise by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next three days.

On Thursday, Rajnandgaon recorded the highest maximum temperature at 43 degrees Celsius, while Ambikapur registered the lowest minimum temperature at 19.6 degrees Celsius. Raipur recorded a high of 41.7 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological centre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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