Heat wave making inroads into Odisha, might set challenge for COVID-19 containment

Bhubaneswar: With the state putting its best foot forward to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, heat wave seems to be making inroads into Odisha towns which might pose an impediment to containment of novel coronavirus spread.

As per regional meteorological office here, Titlagarh, Malkangiri and Bolangir recorded maximum day temperature of 40.5, 40.2 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively today. Heat wave-like conditions prevailed in several parts of the state.

Apart from these three stations, temperature in several other places also hovered around the 40 degree Celsius mark. Similarly, day temperature at Cuttack (39.5), Bhubaneswar (39.2), Boudh (39.5), Nayagarh (39) and Paralakhemundi (39.2) also was close to breaching the 40-level mark.

The MeT office predicted that the maximum temperature is very likely to rise by 2 to 3 degree Celsius in Odisha districts in next two days and there will be no large change thereafter.

Interestingly, Port City Paradip recorded the lowest temperature among the stations at 32.6 degree Celsius.

Temperature in other cities are: Balasore (36), Chandbali (38.4), Gopalpur (33.5), Puri (33.4), Angul (38.7), Baripada (38.5), Jharsuguda (38), Keonjhar (36.2), Sambalpur (38), Sundargarh (36.5), Hirakud (37.3), Talcher (37.5), Bhawanipatna (38), Koraput (34.2), Phulbani (37.2), Sonepur (38.8), Daringibadi (34), Chatrapur (34) and Rayagada (34).

The weatherman, however, hoisted yellow warning for three days from Friday. On Friday, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Bhadrak and Jajpur will receive thunderstorm with lightning. On Saturday, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri districts will receive thunderstorm with ligning and gusty surface wind speed upto 30-40 kmph. Similarly on Sunday, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj districts will experience thunderstorm with lightning.

Notably, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) on Sunday warned that heat wave condition may compound the challenges in containing the spread of novel coronavirus.

OSDMA Managing Director Pradeep Kumar Jena had written to all the district collectors urging them to put standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for implementing the heat action plan.

He said any delay in implementation of action plan will have serious implications on the lives, livestock and livelihoods of the people which will compound the challenges in containing coronavirus.