W Odisha turns into hot cauldron; heat claims 2nd life

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar:  Even as parts of State, especially western Odisha districts, turned into a boiling cauldron with the continuous rise in mercury levels, the killer heat claimed another life today taking the total death toll to two with several places sweltering in above-40 degree temperatures.

The death was reported from Angul district, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.

Three towns of the State recorded above 43 degrees C today. Titlagarh remained the hottest place at 43.6 degrees Celsius. Bolangir town and Talcher recorded 43.5 degrees followed by Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district at 43.2 degrees, Met sources said.

The mercury breached the 40 degree mark in at least 11 places in the state. The mercury was at 42.2 degrees Celsius at Malkangiri, 42 degrees at Jharsuguda, 41.7 degrees at Angul, 41.2 degrees at Sonepur, 41 degrees at Sambalpur and Hirakud and 40.4 degrees Celsius at Phulbani.

The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar was 38.8 degrees Celsius, and 37.4 degree Celsius in neighbouring Cuttack city, the Met office said.