Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will decide on declaring school holidays in specific districts based on reports submitted by District Collectors, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said on Thursday amid rising temperatures across the state.

Emphasising that student safety remains the top priority, the minister said the department is closely monitoring the situation, particularly in parts of western Odisha where severe heatwave conditions have been reported.

“The decision on school closures will be taken only after receiving ground-level inputs from the respective district collectors,” Gond said, adding the situation is being assessed on a district-wise basis rather than issuing a blanket order across the state.

He further stated Collectors from the affected districts have been asked to submit detailed reports on prevailing weather conditions and their impact on students.

Meanwhile, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) is set to hold a review meeting on the heatwave situation. A final decision regarding summer vacation or temporary school closures will be taken only after this meeting and a comprehensive assessment, the minister added.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, temperatures touched 40 degrees Celsius or above at nine places across the state on Thursday, with Titilagarh recording the highest at 42 degrees Celsius.