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After the reopening of government schools on May 16 after summer vacation, more than 100 students, including some teachers, fainted due to scorching heat during classes and prayer meetings in different schools in different districts of the state. The matter has taken a political turn.
Despite the governor’s directive to extend vacations in light of reports of difficulties faced by students, teachers and parents, government schools, which are mostly bereft of even basic amenities and do not have enough space to accommodate all enrolled students, are running, while private schools are mostly closed.
On Wednesday, reports of students and teachers fainting came from Aurangabad, Motihari, Siwan, Sheohar, Patna, Begusarai, Munger, Jamui, Banka. These incidents have triggered widespread concern and criticism of the state government’s handling of the crisis.
The temperature crossed 45 degrees in most cities of Bihar, while it reached 48 degrees Celsius in Aurangabad district. According to the IMD bulletin, 17 out of 38 districts recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Speaking to ANI on the heatwave situation, IMD scientist Ashish Kumar said, “Severe heatwave conditions are expected in south Bihar, including Gaya, Buxar, Nawada, Rohtas and Aurangabad, today and tomorrow. An ‘orange’ alert has been issued in these districts. There will be some relief from Friday as the temperature will drop slightly but the humidity will remain high.”
Former MP and teachers’ union president Shatrughan Prasad Singh said, “Safety of life should be the first concern. Schools run for students and teachers. Schools should not be used by officials to make their report cards. This is impractical in the scorching heat.”
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav attacked the government, saying, “There is no government and democracy in Bihar, but only bureaucracy. The CM is so weak that no one listens to him even on school timings. The temperature is 47 degrees, heatwave is blowing, but officials are issuing orders from their air-conditioned rooms, not sparing even small children. The infrastructure of schools in Bihar is not hidden from anyone… But, the CM has nothing in his hands.”
LJP-R chief Chirag Paswan also drew the attention of the CM and the government to the torture being faced by students in the scorching heat. He said, “Students are fainting but the officials are indifferent and issuing arbitrary orders. This is nothing less than torture and the government should immediately close the schools and listen to the officials.”
According to reports from Sheikhpura, 12 girl students from different schools fainted due to heat stroke in the high school located in Mankol village of Ariyari block. As soon as the school opened, seven girl students fainted during the morning prayer. Two girl students have been taken to Sadar Hospital, where their condition is critical.
“While the prayer meeting was going on, the students fell unconscious due to extreme heat. We tried to give them first aid. The students are facing a lot of trouble due to the soaring temperature,” said Suresh Prasad, headmaster of the middle school.
Dr. Rajnikant Kumar of Sadar Hospital said, “The condition of the students admitted here is stable now.” He said that students should always keep drinking water and avoid going out in these extreme weather conditions.
The health of six girl students deteriorated in Kurmichak Middle School of Ghoswari block in Patna rural area. One of these students is undergoing treatment. Dr. Naval Kishore Baitha of Ghoswari Primary Health Center said that the remaining students were discharged after treatment.
In Begusarai too, more than 41 students of Matihani Middle School, AN High School (Matihani), Vivekanand Public School (Ballia), Higher Secondary School (Mohanpur) suddenly fell unconscious. The students were picked up from there in unconscious state and admitted to Matihani PHC and Referral Hospital for treatment, where all the students are undergoing treatment. Begusarai DM Roshan Kushwaha said, “The students have fallen ill due to heat and all the students are out of danger.” He directed all BEOs to arrange first aid kits in the school premises.
Upon hearing about the incident, parents of the children rushed to the school and urged the school administration to close the school.
The poor infrastructure of schools in Bihar has been highlighted in various reports, including the Annual Status of Education Report. Many schools do not have working fans or ventilated rooms.
“Even though classes are half attended, they are suffering from space crunch. Imagine what will happen if pre-fab structures are used for classrooms. We had heard about plans to build pre-fab structures given the space crunch. This will prove disastrous as classrooms have already become gas chambers. Officials sit in air-conditioned rooms and cars, not teachers and children of the poor,” said a teacher who did not wish to be named.
Some students in Aurangabad demanded that air-conditioners be installed in classrooms as copies and books are usually used as hand fans in this heat. They said that even if there is electricity, the fan cannot cover the entire classroom.
Children have demanded the government to install AC. Fans are running in the school classrooms, but children are not able to study and are seen using books and copies as fans. Children are demanding from KK Pathak that it is not possible to study in such heat, so either install AC or close the school.
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