Bhubaneswar: At a time when people are grappling with the blistering hot weather, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar Tuesday issued heat wave alert for two more days informing that the same condition would prevail across the State for the coming five days.
Despite the arrival of monsoon, Odisha continued to reel under intense heat wave conditions with mercury soaring to 42.3 degree Celsius in the capital city, making it the hottest place of the State for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. However, the afternoon showers yesterday brought some respite for the denizens in Bhubaneswar.
Temperature in as many as ten places, including Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Chandbali, Cuttack, Angul, Baripada, Talcher, Bolangir, Titlagarh, and Dhenkanal crossed the 40 degree mark on Tuesday. The mercury stood at 42.2 degree Celsius in Baripada making it the second hottest place of Odisha.
Meanwhile, frequent power cuts have thrown lives out of gear in Angul, Talcher and Sundergarh’s Bonai. “The heat and humidity has become unbearable. We cannot come out without an umbrella. The scorching heat can be felt till 6 in the evening and the frequent power cuts have really made our lives miserable,” said Sangita Sahoo, a resident of Bonai.
“Air pollution is one of the reasons behind such sweltering heat. We can neither remain indoors nor come out due to the sun,” said Nabakishore Pradhan, a local of Angul.
Dukhabandhu Behera of Talcher says, “The temperature remains the same from 10 in the morning till late evening. Low voltage and erratic power supply has made lives difficult in Talcher.”
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In view of the heat wave condition, the State government Wednesday extended summer vacations in schools for the second time till June 25. With the extension of summer holidays, schools will now reopen on June 26, instead of June 21.