PATNA, May 20 -- Bihar will continue to reel under intense heat conditions over the next few days, with maximum temperatures expected to remain between 38degC and 44degC in large parts of the state before rising by another 1-2degC thereafter, as per Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra (BMSK). The BMSK has issued a high-temperature alert for East and West Champaran, Saran, Siwan, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Buxar, Arwal, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Gaya, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Banka, Munger and Jamui districts for the next two days. India Meteorological Department (IMD), however, forecast a marginal 2-3degC dip in day temperatures across many areas during next 24 hours before conditions stabilise again. Clear skies accompanied by moderate to strong winds with gusts up to 45 kmph are likely across Bihar. Isolated very light to light rainfall accompanied by moderate thunderstorm and lightning has been forecast in parts of East and West Champaran during the next 24 hours, BMSK said. Block-level alerts have been issued for Bankatwa and Ghorasahan in East Champaran, and Betaha, Gaunaha, Narkatiaganj, Ramnagar, Sidhaw and Thakrahan blocks in West Champaran between 5 and 8 am on May 20. Bhabua in Kaimur recorded the highest maximum of 42.7degC, a 2.9degC departure from normal, followed by Rohtas at 41.4degC and Chapra at 40.6degC on Tuesday, as per IMD. Gaya recorded the highest maximum temperature at 44.6degC on Monday, while Agwanpur in Saharsa district reported the lowest minimum at 25.5degC on Tuesday morning. BMSK observations showed harsher localised heat conditions, with Kochas block in Rohtas and Mohania block in Kaimur recording the state's highest temperature of 45.5degC Monday. Other heat-hit areas included Suryapura in Rohtas, Chand in Kaimur, Makhdumpur in Jehanabad and Itarhi in Buxar where temperatures crossed 45degC. While maximum temperatures across Bihar ranged between 32.2degC and 45.5degC, minimum temperatures stayed between 25.5degC and 30.9degC, with no significant variation recorded in most places during the last 24 hours. Due to prevailing high temperature in Patna, district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM, in his order on Sunday, prohibited academic activities for all private and government schools up to Class 8 after 11 am till May 21. However, a parent, in an e-mail to Hindustan Times, flagged that Keshav Saraswati Vidya Mandir at Keshavpuram, Ranipurchak, Marcha in Patna was not abiding by the DM's order and retaining students of classes 6, 7 and 8 till 1.30 pm. School principal Devanand Doordarshi said, "All classes and academic activities were suspended yesterday (Monday) on account of sports day function at school. Our school functions in two shifts. Normally, the primary school and a few higher classes get over by 11 am, while students of class 9 and above stay back. We will follow the DM's order from Wednesday."...