Bhubaneswar: After a brief respite from heat wave condition, western region of Odisha today witnessed a rise in the mercury level with Sundergarh recording the highest temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius.
While the sunstroke deaths confirmed by the state government remained the same at 16, the number of alleged heat-related deaths increased by 2 to 168, Special Relief Commission's (SRC) office said.
A total of 14 places across the state recorded temperature above 40 degree celsius.
The met office, however, forecast thundersquall at some places in coastal region.
The districts which witnessed soaring temperatures today were Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sambalpur and Angul.
The people living in the interiors of the state continued to suffer as the day temperature recorded in the area was 41.7 degree C in Angul, 41.6 degree at Talcher, 41 degree each at Phulbani and Bolangir, MeT office sources said.
Barring Bhubaneswar, many parts of coastal districts recorded temperature below 40 degree C. Bhubaneswar recorded 40.9 degree celsius, they said
The highest number of sunstroke cases (6) was confirmed in the industrial town of Angul district as the mercury level continued to remain above 40 degree C for over a month. Two death cases have been confirmed in Balasore, Bolangir, Jajpur and Dhenkanal each, SRC office said.
One heat related death took place in Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts each, they said.