The Bihar government has issued an advisory that there should be no cooking, puja or any other religious activity between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in rural areas.
The advisory, issued on Monday night, comes after fires caused by the heat wave claimed the lives of over 36 people and gutted 2,500 houses.
“The advisory has been issued for those living in rural areas not to cook food, offer puja or even burn wheat crop leftovers on agricultural fields after 9 a.m. and before 6 p.m. because the intense heat wave blowing during this period stokes fire,” an official of the State Disaster Management Department told The Hindu . It also said that those found violating the advisory would be penalised under the rules of the Department.
The decision was taken after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened a meeting of officials of the Patna division to discuss frequent fires and water crisis.
