Assam swelters at 40°C in monsoon, school hours cut

GUWAHATI: Daytime temperatures from IMD-run automatic weather stations in Assam recorded above 40 degrees Celsius in 17 locations across 13 districts on Friday, forcing authorities to cut down school timings as weather experts blamed the freaky weather to a haphazard monsoon.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures have increased by 5 to 6 degrees Celsius above the normal over the last few days.This spike is primarily due to insufficient precipitation and is predicted to remain unchanged in the coming days.
In Kamrup metropolitan district, which includes Guwahati, the AWS recorded 45.9 Degree Celsius at Gauhati University and 40.7 Degree Celsius within the city.
The record for highest day temperature in Guwahati since 1951 is 40.6 degree Celsius recorded on April 24, 2014.
An IMD scientist at Guwahati Regional Meteorological Centre told TOI the data from AWS at various locations are computer-generated raw data which are verified, using various factors by human brains.
"AWS data is not wrong, but the verification is done using the data gathered from nearby manual temperature monitors and the historical climate data of the area. After the verification the final figures are released," he said.
The final data after verification for Guwahati's maximum temperature on Friday stands at 38 Degree Celsius, which is 5.6 degree Celsius above normal, prompting authorities to order schools in Kamrup metropolitan district to start at 7.30 am and shut down by 12:30 pm starting Saturday.
Similarly, the AWS recorded Dibrugarh's maximum daytime temperature 40.2 degree Celsius while post-verification it was corrected at 38 Degree Celsius. This was still 6.7 degree Celsius above normal.
The highest temperature of 47.2 degree Celsius was recorded at the automatic weather station (AWS) data at Sonitpur agriculture field monitoring unit, later officials settling for 36.7, which was again 4.8 degree Celsius above normal.
With the temperature soaring, the Kamrup metro district elementary education officer that school hours are being cut down "due to ongoing heatwave in the district" and issued several guidelines for schools to follow "in order to avoid the ill-effects of heatwave."
Schools have been asked to ensure that morning assemblies are conducted inside the classrooms. Schools have also been asked to ensure students drink sufficient water and for that the school should have enough drinking water inside the school.
Schools are asked to advise students not to wear waistcoats or ties.