Bhubaneswar: While most parts of Odisha reeled under an intense heat wave today with Sonepur recording the highest temperature at 46 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe heat wave conditions in the state in the next three days.
Talking to OTV, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said there is a marginal drop in temperature in coastal districts of Odisha due to the wind flow from south-east direction as well as the wind speed which is around 45 kmph.
He said though there will be a slight dip in temperature in interior Odisha in the next 24 hours, the model indicator suggests the temperature will gradually rise in the next 48 hours both in interior and coastal Odisha with severe heat wave condition in the next three days from April 21.
He further said there is a possibility of light rainfall in some parts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Koraput districts by this evening under the influence of a cyclonic circulation formed at a height of 900 metres over Jharkhand and its adjoining areas.
“If this system intensifies, there is possibility of rainfall in Balasore, Bhadrak, Khurda and Cuttack districts in coastal Odisha. But there would be light rainfall as there is not enough moisture in the upper atmosphere,” Sahu pointed out.
As per the Met release this evening, apart from Sonepur, temperature went up to 40 degrees and above in 15 places.
Temperature in these places is mentioned below:
Balasore (42), Chandbali (41.7), Bhubaneswar (40.3), Angul (43.7), Jharsuguda (44.4), Keonjhar (42.1), Sambalpur (43.6), Sundergarh (45), Hirakud (43.1), Talcher (43.8), Bhawanipatna (44), Balangir (43.5), Phulbani (40.8), Titlagarh (44) and Malkangiri (42.8).
Meanwhile, the number of alleged deaths due to sun stroke in the state went up to 45 today.
However, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said it had examined 12 cases and found that none of them were heat-related incidents.