Delhi schools told to ring water bells

Delhi schools have been told to ring regular water bells and limit outdoor activity as heatwave conditions are forecast later this week. Authorities have also advised hydration awareness sessions and a buddy system for students.

NEW DELHI: Schools in India’s capital have been directed to ring bells at regular intervals to remind children to drink water as the city prepares for possible heatwave conditions later this week.

The instruction was issued in guidelines circulated on Tuesday by the Delhi education directorate, which outlined a range of measures for schools aimed at protecting students from extreme heat.

Under the advisory, schools have been asked to avoid outdoor physical activity and hold awareness sessions to stress the importance of staying hydrated. The note also said, Outdoor assemblies to be curtailed or conducted in shaded/indoor areas with minimal duration.

It further instructed schools that No open air classes to be conducted.

Among the measures highlighted in the circular is a water bell initiative intended to reduce the risk of dehydration among students during school hours.

"Schools shall implement a ‘Water Bell’ system, whereby a bell is rung at regular intervals (every 45-60 minutes) reminding students to drink water to prevent dehydration", the circular said.

The advisory also called for a buddy system in schools so that students can keep an eye on one another’s physical condition.

"Each student may be paired up with another student during school hours to monitor and take care of each other’s physical wellbeing", it added.

Heat alert issued for the capital

The move comes as forecasters expect temperatures in New Delhi and the wider metropolitan region, home to around 30 million people, to climb sharply in the coming days. On Wednesday morning, the temperature stood at 29.4 degrees Celsius, but forecasts said it could rise to 41-43 degrees Celsius later in the day and reach 42-44 degrees Celsius later in the week.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, signalling the likelihood of a heatwave later this week.

Extreme heat remains a major risk

Summer temperatures in India can be severe, exposing millions of people to dangerous conditions. Government data cited in the report shows that nearly 11,000 people died from heat stroke between 2012 and 2021.

In May 2024, a heatwave in New Delhi pushed temperatures to 49.2 degrees Celsius, matching the capital’s previous record high set in 2022. That year was recorded as India’s hottest since comprehensive records began in 1901.

The intense heat in 2022 followed a broader global pattern of extreme weather linked to climate change.

The latest school measures reflect growing concern over the impact of rising temperatures on children as Delhi heads into another period of intense summer heat.