Bhubaneswar: Heatwave conditions persisted across large parts of Odisha Sunday, with Jharsuguda emerging as the hottest place in the state at 43.3 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
According to the IMD’s evening bulletin, at least 14 places in the state recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above.
Titlagarh followed Jharsuguda with 43 degrees Celsius, while Sonepur recorded 42.3 degrees Celsius. Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur both registered 42 degrees Celsius.
Rourkela, Bolangir and Sundargarh recorded 41.5 degrees Celsius each, while Angul logged 41.1 degrees Celsius. Hirakud and Nuapada reported 41 degrees Celsius each, it said.
In contrast, the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded relatively lower temperatures at 36.6 degrees Celsius and 35.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, the bulletin said.
The weather office forecast hot and humid conditions in several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati, Monday.
Meanwhile, authorities in Khurda, Nayagarh and Deogarh districts declared school holidays from April 20-23 in view of the heat, while the Cuttack district administration ordered morning classes for schools and anganwadi centres.