Bhubaneswar: Odisha has turned into a hot cauldron with sweltering heatwave conditions intensifying across the state today as Balangir recorded 45.2 degrees Celsius to become the hottest place.
Mercury breached the 45 degree mark at two places, 43 degree mark in seven places and 40 degree mark in at least 15 places in the state, local meteorological office said.
Balangir was followed by Titlagarh, which recorded 45 deg C, while the mercury shot up to 44.8 deg C at Sambalpur, 44.1 deg C at Hirakud, 43.9 deg C at both Angul and Jharsuguda, 43.5 deg C at Bhawanipatna, the MeT office said.
Sundargarh, Phulbani and Sonepur recorded a maximum temperature of 41 deg C, while the temperature was 40.8 deg C at Chandbali and 40.2 deg C at Talcher.
Bhubaneswar and neighbouring Cuttack city recorded a maximum temperature of 40.3 deg C and 40.4 deg C respectively, the Met office said.
Meanwhile, heat toll in Odisha this summer stood at five - three in Angul district and one each in Balangir and Bargarh districts, according to the Special Relief Commissioner's office.