Guwahati, June 11: Just days after Assam was lashed by incessant rainfall, leading to a drop in temperature, a stark shift in weather has pushed the state into the grip of an intense heatwave, forcing the government to revise school timings.
The education department on Tuesday announced that schools across Assam will now start at 7:30 AM, effective from Wednesday, to shield students from the peak daytime heat.
Several districts, including Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, and Jorhat, have recorded soaring temperatures in recent days. On Tuesday, Lakhimpur registered 38°C, while Dibrugarh hit 37.7°C, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) marking several readings as “above normal,” indicating a deviation of over 5°C from the seasonal average.
The sudden temperature rise has impacted daily routines, especially for children. “Due to extreme heat, we are facing difficulty going to school. Now we have to start early in the morning, which is a bit tough but better than being out in the heat later,” said a student.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, in a post on X, urged district commissioners to stay alert and take weather-based decisions. “Given the heat wave alert issued by the Meteorological Department, all District Commissioners are requested to remain vigilant and exercise their delegated authority to reschedule school hours as per local weather conditions,” he stated.
The weather pattern marks a dramatic turn for Assam, which experienced persistent rainfall just days ago, causing waterlogging and minor flooding in several low-lying areas. The shift from wet spells to dry, oppressive heat reflects the increasing volatility of weather in the region—an indicator, experts say, of broader climate fluctuations.
Dibrugarh, known as the “Tea City of India,” has particularly felt the brunt of the changing climate. “Earlier, Dibrugarh was known for its mild and pleasant summers. But for the last two years, we’ve seen a sharp rise in heat levels,” said a local resident.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted below-normal rainfall for Northeast India during the upcoming 2025 Southwest Monsoon season, even as much of the country is expected to receive above-normal precipitation.
According to IMD’s Long-Range Forecast, released under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the country as a whole is likely to receive 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall during the June–September monsoon season. However, Northeast India — a region historically dependent on the monsoon for its ecological balance, agriculture, and water systems — is projected to receive less than 94% of the LPA, putting it in the “below-normal” category.
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