In view of the ongoing heat wave across the State, Tripura Government has announced the closure of all the government and government-aided schools in the State from April 18 to April 23 next considering the health issues of the school children, a government press release issued on Monday (April 17 ) mentioned.
According to the press release, the State Government also urged the private school authority to keep their educational institutions closed for that period.
The state is currently experiencing an unrelenting heat wave, with the mercury reaching around 40 degrees Celsius in many areas. The scorching sun is blazing heat making it difficult for people to go out.
During this time, Kaal Baishakhi is expected, however, according to the IMD, there is the least chance of rain.
Sales of cold drinks and ice cream have risen sharply, with local vendors doing brisk business.
The dry weather has also led to water sources drying up. This has resulted in a drinking water crisis in remote rural areas. Besides, the drying up of water sources has caused problems for farmers in the state.
While the scorching sun is damaged the crops especially the vegetables, the drying up of water sources has led to irrigation problems in many parts of the State.
In the Kumarghat sub-division under Unakoti in Tripura, vast areas of vegetable crop fields are being destroyed by the ongoing intense heat spell. Farmers in Telia, Krishnanagar, Jagannathpur, Bhati Sonaimuri, and Jalai villages under the sub-division, who had cultivated cucumbers, chilies, and other vegetables, are facing significant losses as heat spells have ruined their crops.
Tapan Deb, a farmer of Kumarghat sub-division, reported that he could have earned around Rs 30,000 by selling his cucumbers, but all of his standing crops have spoiled due to the heat.
“I took a loan and cultivated cucumber. Now with ruined crops, I am staring at a bleak future. We, the farmers are demanding the government to assess the extent of our losses and accordingly compensate”, Tapan Deb said.