Bhubaneswar, April 13: The regional meteorological centre recorded the country's highest temperature at Titilagarh today with the mercury rising to 45°C.
Nearly 13 places in the state, including Bhubaneswar, also sizzled with the mercury hovering above the 42°C-mark. Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2°C today.
Life in the city virtually comes to a standstill during the day as a result of the heatwave conditions. However, it springs back to life in the evening with people flocking to the markets and shopping malls, which do brisk business. People tend to hang out in open spaces to enjoy the breeze.
"It is hard to step outside during the day. Thanks to the long holiday, I will not have to go to college in this heat. I find the evenings much better as I can go out with my friends to different places, especially open areas, to enjoy the fresh breeze," said Sushree Ankita, a student.
"The severe heatwave condition will continue across the state's coastal belt till April 18. The maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 40°C and 43°C. However, a light spell of rain around April 20 in the southern parts of the state could bring some relief," said regional Met director Sarat Chandra Sahu.
The conditions showed no signs of relief in the interior parts of the state as the sun continued to remain harsh. The regional Met centre recorded the second highest temperature in the state in Sonepur at 44.8°C followed by 43.6°C in Talcher, 43.5°C in Bhawanipatna and 43.4°C in Malkangiri.
The India Meteorological Department also said that severe heatwave conditions continued to prevail over the Gangetic plains of Bengal and Odisha with the maximum temperature remaining two to three degrees above normal. It said that the situation would continue till April 16.
In a related development, the number of reported deaths caused by sunstroke in the state has reached 30 by official count. However, unofficial sources estimate the number to be closer to 50. Sources in the special relief commissioner's office here said that they received reports of four more deaths today. The special relief commissioner has, so far, probed into five of these cases and concluded that they were not caused by sunstroke. The remaining cases were under investigation, sources said.
