Heat wave grips Odisha; 5 places record temperature above 38 degrees Celsius 

With soaring temperatures throwing normal life out of gear in Odisha, as many as five places on Monday saw mercury surpassing 38 degrees Celsius. 

According to the regional centre of the India Meteorological Department in Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur was the hottest city on Monday, recording 38.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Boudh (38.6), Malkangiri (38.5), Sonepur (38.4) and Bhubaneswar (38.2). 

At the same time, the met office has predicted that several places are likely to experience rain and thundershower activities from March 15.

This rain under the influence of western disturbance may bring some respite from the scorching heat. 

As per the forecast, one or two places of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada are likely to witness rain and thunderstorm activities on March 15.

On March 16, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface wind reaching 40-50kmph is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Balasore. Thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at one or two places over the rest of the districts, as per the forecast.
 
Similarly, on March 17, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface wind reaching 40-50kmph is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Khordha, Puri and thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at one or two places over the rest districts.

While yellow warning for thunderstorms with lightning has been issued for 13 districts for March 16; for March 17, 12 districts have been put on alert.