Mercury dips in several parts of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A dip in temperature in many areas coupled with a nor'wester brought some respite from the scorching heat in Odisha today, even as the mercury shot up to 40.6 degrees Celsius here.

The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar which stood at 35.8 degrees Celsius yesterday, jumped to 40.6 degree C, while in neighbouring Cuttack the mercury soared to 38.5 degree celsius from 35.5 deg C, the MeT office here said.

Despite a drop in temperature in many areas including the western region, the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least eight places and Angul town became the hottest place in the state recording 42.1 degrees Celsius, it said.

Talcher was a close second to Angul recording 41.8 degrees Celsius, while it was 41.2 degrees Celsius in Jharsuguda, 40.8 degrees Celsius in Sonepur, 40.5 degrees Celsius in Bhawanipatna, 40.1 deg C at Hirakud and 40 degree Celsius at Titlagarh, it said.

Sunstroke has claimed at least three lives in the state this summer so far with casualties reported from Bargarh, Angul and Balangir districts, the Special Relief Commissioner's office said.