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.