Heat wave conditions grip more towns in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 9:

The unrelenting mercury continued to acquire more towns into its fold with as many as 18 places registering over 40 degrees Celsius in Odisha today.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that heat wave conditions would prevail for at least a week from now.

Sundargarh recorded the highest temperature today with 45°C followed by Titlagarh at 43°C.

The mercury level in capital city, however, showed marginal increase at 42.2°C from yesterday’s 41.4°C.

“Heat wave condition may prevail over some parts of coastal Odisha during the next five days. The mercury may rise after April 16,” said the IMD bulletin.

The heat wave like condition threw life out of gear across the state today. The sweltering conditions made life miserable for people. The worst-hit were people on outdoor duty.

“It is unbearable to venture out in this scorching heat. This abnormal rise in temperature in Bhubaneswar can be attributed to depleting green cover in the city,” a resident expressed.

Motorists were seen with wet towels and veils on their faces to get some respite from the blistering heat.

“We wrap around wet towels on our face to get relief from the heat. After 10 am, it is difficult to venture out. If weather condition is such in April then you can well imagine the condition in May-June,” said a Talcher-based resident.

Meanwhile, district administrations have asked Tehsildars and Block Development Officers (BDOs) to make drinking water facility at several locations and repair defunct tube wells.

The other cities which surpassed 40°C level today are Keonjhar (40.2°C), Cuttack (40.4°C),Balasore (40.8°C), Dhenkanal (41.2°C), Chandbali (41.3°C), Malkangiri (41.4°C), Sambalpur (41.8°C), Baripada (42.1°C), Hirakud (42.3°C), Talcher (42.4°C), Jharsuguda, Bhawanipatna and Bolangir (42.5°C each), Angul (42.7°C) and Sonepur (42.8°C).