Odisha sounds heat wave alert; issues advisory

Bhubaneswar: With the Met department forecasting rise in day temperature, the State government today issued advisory to District Collectors on preparedness and precautionary measures to tackle heat wave situation this year.

In a letter, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena directed District Collectors to hold review meetings with all concerned officers at District and Sub-district level and ensure that all preparedness measures to combat heat wave are in place.

This apart, the SRC asked the district administrations to ensure uninterrupted water supply to all hospitals/dispensaries including PHC/CHC, veterinary hospitals/dispensaries.

A meeting of the District level GO-Coordination Committee will be convened, if required virtually, to arrange for Drinking Water Distribution Points (‘Paniya Jala Kendra’) at strategic locations in the district, stated the letter adding that hygienic practices and social distancing protocols must be maintained at these kendras.

The District Collectors were also asked to make necessary water arrangements for stray animals in rural and urban areas as well as for wild animals in the reserved forests.

Bolangir in western region of the state recorded maximum temperature at 41.5 degree Celsius followed by Bhubaneswar with 41.2 degree Celsius on Tuesday.

The IMD in its forecast said: “Maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by 2-3 degree Celsius over the districts of Coastal Odisha during the next 2-3 days and it will be 40 degree Celsius or more in some places over the districts during next 3-4 days.”

The IMD said seven places across Odisha on Tuesday recorded temperature above 40 degree Celsius. The places were : Bolangir (41.5), Bhubaneswar (41.2), Talcher (41.1), Sonepur (41), Angul and Boudh (Both 40.5) and Nayagarh (40).