Srinagar, June 13 -- Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government to announce summer vacations in schools across the Valley in view of the ongoing heatwave that has gripped the region.

In a statement issued today, KTA President Aijaz Shahdhar expressed serious concern over the impact of the soaring temperatures on school-going children. "A majority of our schools lack the infrastructure and facilities necessary to safeguard children from the effects of this intense heat. Classrooms are often overcrowded and poorly ventilated, making it extremely difficult for students to concentrate or cope," Shahdhar said.

He added that continuing in-person classes under such extreme conditions poses a serious health ri...