Patna: Several students at a school in Bihar's Sheikhpura fell unconscious on Wednesday due to extreme heatwave conditions that has intensified across the state. The health condition of the students deteriorated to the extent that they had to be hospitalised.

The condition of the affected students is said to be stable now. Dr Rajnikanth Kumar at Sadar Hospital said, "Due to rising temperature, the students are facing difficulties. The students admitted here are stable now."

Another doctor at the hospital advised the students to keep themselves hydrated by drinking as much water as possible. He also asked them to refrain from stepping out in the heat. 

Suresh Prasad, Headmaster of a middle school at Mankaul in Sheikhpura district said, “Due to extreme heatwave conditions on Wednesday, around 6-7 students fainted during the assembly prayers. We tried to provide first aid. Students are facing a lot of difficulties.”

Similar incidents of students fainting in classrooms were reported from Begusarai district and Motihari in East Champaran district.

Meanwhile, commenting on the incidents of school students falling unconscious, RJD leader and former state Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav, said, "The state government must take the matter seriously. Preventive steps should be taken immediately to protect school children from the heatwave conditions. The day temperature is touching 48 degrees Celsius, but schools are open." "Why is Chief Minister Nitish Kumar not intervening in the matter? Why has the CM become so weak?" he asked.

"The CM's instructions are not being followed by the bureaucrats in the state. He must look into it. It's a serious matter concerning the health of school students," said Yadav.

Orange Alert in Parts of South Bihar

Patna IMD said severe heat wave conditions are expected to prevail in parts of south Bihar including Gaya, Buxar, Nawada, Rohtas and Aurangabad on Wednesday and Thursday. The IMD has also issued an 'Orange' alert in these districts. As per the MeT, people in the state can heave a sigh of relief from Friday onwards as the mercury will dip slightly but humidity will remain high.

According to Patna IMD scientist Ashish Kumar, “Severe heatwave condition is expected to prevail in south Bihar including Gaya, Buxar, Nawada, Rohtas and Aurangabad today and tomorrow. 'Orange' alert is issued in these districts. From Friday, there will be some relief as the temperature will slightly dip but humidity will remain high.” 

"People are advised to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration," said a senior official of the Bihar Disaster Management Department.

On Tuesday, at least nine places in the state registered high temperatures by crossing 44 degree Celsius-mark.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Secretary Brajesh Mehrotra has called a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the preparedness of departments concerned in view of the extreme heatwave in the state.

"A high-level meeting of the crisis management group of the state government has been called by the Chief Secretary at 3.30 pm today to review the preparedness of departments concerned in view of the extreme heatwave conditions in the state," said the Additional Chief Secretary of Disaster Management Department of Bihar government, Pratyaya Amrit.