Odisha heat wave toll now 12; Bhawanipatna hottest at 46.5

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 28:

The death toll due to intense heat wave in Odisha reached 12 with a fresh case reported from Kendrapara even as extreme heat wave conditions continued to batter life in the interior parts of Odisha on Thursday.

“Of the 89 complaints of sun stroke deaths received so far, 12 deaths have been confirmed as heat related incidents, while 12 other deaths were found to have been caused by other factors. Besides, 66 other cases are under investigation by the district collectors,” a statement issued by the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office said.

Of the 12 confirmed sunstroke deaths, four cases were from Kendrapara district, two from Rayagada district and one each from Angul, Balasore, Balngir, Bargarh, Cuttack and Ganjam districts, it said.

The district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district recorded the highest temperature in the day with 46.5 degree C followed by Sambalpur 45.5, Hirakud 45.4, Jharsuguda 44.7, Balangir and Titlagarh 44.5 each and Sundergarh with 44 deg C.

As many as 13 cities in the state recorded above 40 degrees C today while Bhubaneswar registered a temperature of 40 deg C. The relative humidity, which caused profuse sweating, was recorded at 89 per cent in the state capital.

The state’s  received reports of 89 deaths allegedly due to sun stroke.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the heat wave conditions will continue at few places in interior Odisha over next two days.

The Regional MeT office here predicted that rain or thundershower may occur in the state capital and its neighbouring areas in the next 24 hours while the day’s temperature would reach a maximum of 40 degree C.