Odisha sizzles under searing heat

Bhubaneswar: The heatwave condition further intensified in most parts of Odisha, mainly in the western region, with Angul becoming the hottest place in the state recording 44.7 degrees Celsius.

Angul had recorded 41.7 deg C yesterday. As the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least 11 places in the state, the MeT office predicted that intense heatwave conditions would persist for some more days.

While Balangir town recorded a maximum temperature of 44.5 deg C, it was 44.1 deg C in the coal town of Talcher, 44 deg C in Jharsuguda and 43.8 deg C in Sonepur, it said.

Sambalpur, Hirakud and Titlagarh recorded 43 deg C, while the mercury stood at 42.5 deg C in Bhawanipatna, 41.2 deg C in Phulbani and 40.1 deg C in Keonjhargarh, the MeT office said.

The state capital Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 36.6 deg C, while mercury stood at 36.4 deg C in neighbouring Cuttack. There was little respite from the scorching heat in most parts of interior Odisha.

However, some areas of the coastal belt got some relief because of a thunder squall and rain.

Two sunstroke deaths have so far been reported in the state, one each from Bargarh and Angul district, according to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner.