Heatwave continues, Sambalpur records 46.7 degree Cel

Day temperature increased in Sambalpur town, which was celebrating the annual Sital Sasti festival. While Hirakud recorded 46.6 degrees, it was 45.9 degrees in Jharsuguda and 45.5 degrees in Bhawanipatna.

"Many parts of the western districts recorded above 44 degrees Celsius on Friday," said S Sahu, director of local met office, adding the situation was likely to continue for at least three more days.

Capital Bhubaneswar recorded 42 degrees with relative humidity remaining at 89 per cent.

While the official death toll due to sunstroke remained at 10, the government was verifying on 27 other alleged heat wave deaths cases reported from different districts.

The districts which confirmed one sunstroke death each were Angul, Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Ganjam, Jajpur and Sonepur. Three deaths were reported from Balasore district.

Of the total 61 complaints of sunstroke deaths received so far, 34 had been verified of which 10 were due to heat related aliments, said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra said.