Bhubaneswar, 02 March (H.S.) : The Higher Education Department of the Odisha government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all higher education institutions under its jurisdiction to address the anticipated heat wave during the summer of 2026.

Under the SOP, institutions are advised to conduct classes and examinations during morning hours, restrict outdoor activities during peak afternoon heat, ensure the availability of drinking water and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), maintain water infrastructure, and provide basic first aid facilities.

The department has also instructed institutions to raise awareness among students and staff regarding heat-related precautions and to reschedule events to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. Compliance with the SOP is mandatory to safeguard the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

“Classes, internal assessments, and examinations should, as far as practicable, be scheduled during morning hours to minimize students’ exposure to peak heat. Institutions may adjust daily timetables as needed, based on local heat conditions,” the SOP states.

According to the SOP, outdoor academic, sports, and co-curricular activities must be limited during peak afternoon hours. If such activities are unavoidable, they should be conducted with adequate safeguards and preferably during relatively cooler periods of the day.

The SOP further mandates that sufficient stocks of ORS be maintained and readily accessible, particularly in classrooms, hostels, common areas, and examination centres. All tube wells, hand pumps, and drinking water facilities on campus must be inspected, with any non-functional units repaired on priority to ensure uninterrupted water supply during the summer months.

Additionally, basic first aid facilities must be kept ready in colleges and examination centres to manage heat-related discomfort, dehydration, dizziness, or other medical emergencies. Institutions are required to identify responsible personnel to provide immediate assistance in such situations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda