Bhubaneswar: Blistering heat persisted in Odisha today with Titlagarh regaining its position as the hottest place in the state at 43 degree Celsius.
However, cloudy weather conditions acted as a coolant bringing the temperature down marginally in some of the coastal areas.
In Bhubaneswar the maximum temperature fell to 37.7 degree celsius from 38.4 degree celsius recorded yesterday, while in neighbouring Cuttack city the mercury fell to 36.6 degree C from at 38 deg C yesterday, the met office said.
The mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least nine places in the western part of the state during the day.
Balangir was a close second to Titlagarh recording 42.5 degree celsius, while the mercury stood at 42.1 degree celsius at Angul, 42 degree C at Jharsuguda, 41.3 deg C at Sambalpur and 41 degree celsius at Hirakud, the met office bulletin said.
The maximum temperature was 40.5 degree celsius at Talcher, 40.2 degree celsius at Chandbali, 40 degree celsius at Sonepur, it said.
Sunstroke has claimed three lives in the state this summer so far with the casualties reported from Bargarh, Angul and Balangir districts, the Special Relief Commissioner's office said.