Jharsuguda hottest in Odisha at 41.8 degrees Celsius; IMD issues heatwave warning

The industrial town of Jharsuguda on Friday recorded the highest temperature in Odisha at 41.8 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said.

The IMD warned that heatwave conditions will prevail in Odisha from Mar 14-18.

As many as 12 places in Odisha recorded a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or more on Friday, it said.

Severe heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places of the state, the IMD said.

"Hot and humid condition will prevail in the coastal regions of the state," said Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar.

Jharsuguda was the hottest place in the state at 41.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Angul (41.1), Bolangir and Titlagarh (40 each), the IMD said.

The places that recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or more were Sonepur, Boudh and Bhawanipatna (40.5 each), Sambalpur (40.3) Hirakud, Sundergarh and Dhenkanal (40.1 each) and Bhadrak (40).

Bhubaneswar, the state capital, recorded a temperature of 37.2°C, accompanied by a relative humidity of 78 per cent. Meanwhile, the mercury in Cuttack rose to 38.2°C, with humidity levels remaining the same.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for certain areas in the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj.

An 'orange warning' (indicating the need to be prepared for action) has been issued for heatwave conditions expected in some parts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj on Saturday.

Additionally, heatwave conditions are likely to affect a few places in Sundergarh, Boudh, and Bolangir districts on the same day.

The IMD has also placed a 'yellow warning' (advising people to stay aware) for heatwave conditions at select locations in the districts of Keonjhar, Bargarh, Balasore, Gajapati, Bhadrak, Sonepur, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Kalahandi.

The IMD said the rise in temperature may affect vulnerable people such as infants, elderly, those with chronic diseases.

It advised people to avoid prolonged exposure to hot weather and suggested people to wear light-weight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes.

(With PTI inputs)