Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department of Odisha government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for higher education institutions coming under the department to tackle the heat wave situation during the summer of 2026.
As per the SOP, institutions are advised to conduct classes and exams in morning hours, restrict outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours, ensure availability of drinking water and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and maintain water infrastructure and provide first aid facilities.
The department has also directed institutions to sensitize students and staff on heat-related precautions and reschedule events to avoid extreme heat conditions. Institutions have been asked to follow the SOP to safeguard the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.
“Classes, internal assessments and examinations shall, as far as practicable, be conducted or rescheduled during the morning hours to avoid exposure of students to peak heat conditions. Institutions may suitably adjust daily timetables keeping local heat conditions in view”, read the SOP.
As per the SOP, outdoor academic, sports and co-curricular activities shall be restricted during peak afternoon hours. Where unavoidable, such activities shall be conducted with adequate safeguards and preferably during relatively cooler periods of the day.
Adequate stocks of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) shall be maintained and made readily available, particularly in classrooms, hostels, common areas and examination centres. Besides, all tube wells, hand pumps and drinking water facilities within the campus shall be inspected and non-functional units repaired on priority to prevent any disruption in water supply during the summer months, according to the SOP.
It is mentioned in the SOP that basic first aid facilities shall be kept in readiness in colleges and examination centres to address heat-related discomfort, dehydration, dizziness or other medical exigencies. Institutions shall identify responsible personnel for providing immediate assistance in such situations.
