In response to the severe heatwave sweeping across parts of the state, the Karnataka government has issued an official order to adjust office timings for government offices in select districts. Starting from April to May 2025, the new working hours will be from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM in seven districts of the Kalaburagi division, along with Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts of the Belagavi division. This decision comes after a formal proposal was put forth by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, highlighting the rising temperatures and the associated health risks for government employees. The order aims to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme heat, ensuring the safety and well-being of the workforce while maintaining administrative efficiency.
The state president of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association, Bangalore, has requested that an order be issued fixing the office working hours in April and May, taking into account the difficulties faced by employees in performing their duties due to rising temperatures. Summer in India lasts from April to June, when temperatures often soar past 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) at the season's peak.
During an online press meet, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that most parts of the country will see higher-than-normal maximum temperatures, except for some areas in western and eastern India where the temperatures are expected to be normal. Minimum temperatures will also be above normal in most regions. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are among the states which are likely to see above-normal heatwave days. Last week, the central government asked states to check if their hospitals were ready to handle heatstroke and heat-related illnesses amid a rise in temperatures.