The Jharkhand school education and literacy department issued an order on Tuesday to all schools (private, government-aided and state-owned) directing them to remain closed from June 12 to June 15 because of a severe heatwave in the state.

However, with the meteorological department in Ranchi forecasting the heatwave in various parts of the state from June 12 to 14, the government has decided to shut down the schools bearing the students’ health in mind.

The meteorological department has issued a red alert in many districts of Jharkhand because of the heatwave. On Tuesday, the highest temperature of 45.3°C was recorded in Garhwa while the minimum temperature of 26.3°C was recorded in Ranchi.

A red alert for heatwave was issued in Garhwa and Palamu on Tuesday. An orange alert was issued in Chatra, Latehar, east Singhbhum, west Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. A yellow alert was issued in Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamtara, Deoghar, Dumka and Godda districts.

A red alert for June 12 and 13 has been issued in Garhwa, Palamu, east Singhbhum, west Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan districts.

A red alert for June 14 was also issued in east Singhbhum, west Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan districts.

The weather department has issued an advisory for the heatwave and cautioned people against going out in the sun between 11am and 3pm.

According to the Ranchi meteorological department, the monsoon will enter Jharkhand from the Bay of Bengal. Partial effects of the monsoon will be seen on June 13 and 14, while after June 15, the monsoon will onset.