Schools in Delhi to use bells for water breaks

Schools in India's capital must ring regular bells to remind schoolchildren to drink water as the megacity gears up to face heatwave conditions, a new city order has said.

Summer heat in the world's most populous nation can be brutal - putting millions of people at risk, with nearly 11,000 people dying due to heat stroke between 2012 and 2021, according to government data.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a "yellow alert" for Delhi, indicating the likelihood of a heatwave later in the week.

On Tuesday, guidelines issued by the Delhi education directorate asked schools in the city to adopt a plethora of steps to shield students.

They included avoiding "outdoor physical activities" and conducting "awareness sessions" to remind them of the importance of hydration.

Schools have been asked to start a "water bell" initiative to prevent dehydration and also implement a "buddy system" for students to look out for each other. "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 notes.