Indore reels under chill, school timing shifts to 9 am:Collector orders new schedule, urges schools to prioritize safety, transparency and student welfare

A sharp cold wave has swept across Madhya Pradesh, pulling night temperatures to rare lows. Indore recorded 7.2°C on Sunday night, prompting Collector Shivam Verma to revise school timings. All schools will now begin at 9 am from November 18. Instructions have been issued to the District Education Officer for immediate implementation. The minimum temperature plunged to 6.4°C on Saturday, the steepest fall for November in decades and the coldest for the month since 1956. The city breached a 69-year mark, placing this night among the coldest November readings ever recorded in Indore. The minimum was nine degrees below normal, falling by more than three degrees within just 24 hours. Historical data shows Indore last recorded 6.4°C in November in 1975, while the all-time November low of 5.6°C was logged in 1938. Daytime temperatures also dipped, with the maximum settling at 25.7°C, nearly five degrees below the seasonal average. Collector holds key meeting with school operators A crucial meeting of government and private school operators was held on Monday at the Collectorate under the chairmanship of Collector Shivam Verma. Issues related to students including scholarships, transport, books, uniforms, fees and fire safety, were discussed in detail. The meeting was attended by CEO Zila Panchayat Siddharth Jain, Additional Collector Roshan Rai, RTO Pradeep Sharma and officials from various departments. Strict instructions on safety and fee regulations Collector Verma said no compromise would be tolerated on matters affecting students’ life, health and safety. He warned that action would be taken against any institution found violating norms or causing inconvenience to children. He directed schools to follow rules while increasing fees and to avoid unnecessary charges. Schools have been asked not to force students to buy books, notebooks or learning material from a particular shop and to prevent any form of monopoly. Focus on transport and fire safety Emphasizing the importance of safe school transport, the Collector instructed that all school vehicles must have mandatory safety equipment, trained staff and valid fitness certificates. Vehicles must operate within prescribed speed limits and carry adequate fire-safety gear. He also ordered mandatory fire audits in all schools. Staff must be trained to operate fire-fighting equipment, and regular mock drills should be conducted for students and employees to ensure preparedness during emergencies. Timely scholarships, no student to be barred Collector Verma directed officials to ensure timely resolution of scholarship-related cases. He said no student should be denied classes, exams or Transfer Certificates due to non-payment of fees. Schools have been told to treat children admitted under the RTE quota on par with other students and to ensure free education for them up to Class 8, as mandated.