In West Bengal, heat wave conditions prevailed in Kolkata and five southern districts on Wednesday. Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal. Regional Met Office says heat wave conditions will prevail in the southern and western districts of West Bengal till Thursday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked school authorities to announce early summer holidays to protect students from the severe weather. Most schools in Kolkata and the southern and western districts are likely to close by the end of this week.