The bandh has been called in protest against the government’s failure to check the spike in fees by private schools, demanding providing basic facilities in government schools and also filling up the DEO and MEO posts.

Several areas in Punjab and Haryana are witnessing maximum temperatures in the 43-45 degrees Celsius range.

The heat wave has also left the political leaders in a quandary as they are unable to move out during the daytime for campaigning across the state, which goes to polls on June 1 in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections.

In response to the scorching temperatures, schools have been instructed to operate from 6:30 am to 10:30 am from April 22 to 24.

"Therefore, all the heads of government and private schools are hereby directed to constitute a committee for random/surprise checking of school bags of students in classrooms and ensure that no student is in possession of any material that may be used to harm fellow students," DoE said.