CHANDIGARH, May 22 — The Punjab government has modified the daily operations of all public offices and educational institutions across the state to protect citizens from soaring summer temperatures, officials announced Friday.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared that starting Monday, May 25, both state offices and schools for all grade levels will shift to an early morning configuration, running from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The administrative adaptation aims to limit outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours, when thermal indicators are at their highest.
“Keeping in view the summer heat, the timings of all government offices and all schools, for all classes, will be from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM from Monday, May 25 onwards,” Mann stated in a public announcement. He noted that the decision follows careful monitoring of the rising regional temperatures and the resulting physical discomfort faced by working professionals and students alike.
Representatives from the School Education Department stated that detailed operational guidelines are being dispatched to government, aided, and private institutions to guarantee uniform compliance. Alongside health considerations, administrative sources shared that the altered shift will help lower electricity demands on the regional grid during peak usage hours.
The state-wide mandate comes as multiple districts face high-temperature warnings from the India Meteorological Department, with baseline figures repeatedly crossing 43 degrees Celsius. Although scattered rain showers brought localized cooling to cities like Jalandhar and Ludhiana, broader seasonal forecasts indicate that intense heatwave conditions will continue to impact the area.
