Heat wave back in Odisha after brief respite

Bhubaneswar: After a brief respite from heat wave condition, most parts of Odisha today witnessed a rise in the mercury as maximum day temperature hovered above 40 degree Celsius in eleven places.

Yesterday, three towns witnessed temperature above 40 degree Celsius.

With 45.2 degree Celsius, the industrial town of Jharsuguda was the hottest place today, according to the Met Department.

The State capital Bhubaneswar witnessed maximum day temperature of 37.2 degrees Celsius. The neighbouring Cuttack city recorded 36.5 degree Celsius.

The districts which witnessed soaring temperatures today were Angul, Balangir, Sambalpur and Sundergarh.

The scorching heat has affected the normal life badly forcing people to stay indoors. Markets and roads across the Western Odisha wore a deserted look.

People in the coastal areas of the state, however, got some respite as the maximum day temperature witnessed a fall today.

Balasore recorded 37.6 degree Celsius followed by Chandbali (37.7), Paradip (32.5), Gopalpur (31.2), Puri (34), Baripada (37), Malkangiri (41.6), Sambalpur (43.2), Sundergarh (41) and Hirakud (42.9).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the southwest monsoon, which has advanced into the Andamans, is expected to hit the Kerala coast on June 6.

The Bhubaneswar Centre of IMD predicted that the monsoon will reach the Odisha coast within eight or ten days after it touch Kerala.