Bhubaneswar: The heat wave condition returned to Odisha with rise in the mercury level today as Angul turned out to be the hottest place in the state with 44.7 degrees Celsius.
The whole state virtually turned into a cauldron as the mercury breached 44 degree Celsius mark in at least four places and 40 degree mark in 15 towns, compared to ten yesterday, the MeT office here said.
State capital Bhubaneswar sizzled under gruelling heat as the maximum temperature rose up to 43.6 degree Celsius from 38.8 degree Celsius yesterday. In Cuttack, the mercury climbed to 40.8 degree Celsius from yesterday's 38 degree Celsius, it said.
Angul was closely followed by Titlagarh which recorded at 44.5 degree Celsius, while the mercury stood at 44.3 degree Celsius at Jharsuguda, 44 degree Celsius at Hirakud, 43 degree Celsius at Balangir, 42.4 deg C at Talcher and 42.2 deg C at both Sonepur and Sambalpur, the MeT office said.
Chandbali recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9 degree Celsius, Bhawanipatna 41.8 degrees, Baripada 41.5 degree C, Phulbani 40.2 degree C and Keonjhargarh 40 degree C, it said.
At least 16 heat-related deaths have been reported in the state so far this summer - four each from Sambalpur and Angul, three each in Bargarh and Sundargarh districts and one each in Balangir and Bhadrak, said the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).