Schools in Aizawl Shut Due to Overnight Rain, Union Health Secretary Urges States to Prepare for Heatwave

The schools across Aizawl district in Mizoram were closed today due to heavy overnight rainfall in the region for the past few hours. An official release stated, "All schools within Aizawi District are hereby instructed to close the schools on 28th April, 2026 (Tuesday)." This measure was taken to protect students from the risk of mudslides, landslides, and rockfalls.

It added, “Due to heavy rainfall in the past few hours within Aizawl District, which could result in mud flow, landslides, rock fall and other calamities in various locations within the District, the undersigned do hereby deems appropriate to close all schools, including Higher Secondary Schools, in the District for the safety and well-being of the students.”

Union Health Secretary writes to Other State and UT Chief Secretaries on Heatwave 

The Union Health Secretary has urged all states and union territories to get ready for heat-related illnesses, following the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) latest warning of more heatwave days than usual from April to June 2026. The East, Central, North-West India, and the South-East Peninsula, along with coastal areas like Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh, are all expected to be affected.

The Health Secretary wrote to all State and UT Chief Secretaries to set up dedicated Heat Stroke Management Units in all health facilities, ensure ambulance services are adequately prepared, issue early warnings for timely action, and report heat stroke cases in real-time on the Ministry's IHIP portal.

The IMD had previously reported high temperatures of 40-46 degrees Celsius across most of the country, though some areas like the western Himalayas and parts of North-East India were cooler, with temperatures below 36 degrees Celsius. These two events show the unpredictable weather and the need for safety actions across India.