Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 25: Heatwave condition flared up in the state with sunstroke toll having reached 43 out of which five deaths were recorded Monday. Fourteen districts have reported sunstroke deaths with the highest eight reported from Cuttack followed by six each from Jajpur and Khurda, five in Kendrapara and four in Dhenkanal.
Three deaths were reported from Ganjam, two each from Rayagada, Puri, Keonjhar and Jagatsinghpur while Bargarh, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Nuapada saw one death each this season.
According to reports, Rubina Dalai (32) from Jajpur, Dhirendra Jena (45) from Bhadrak, Anjum Jhartad (10), Mohani Charan Samal (65) from Kendrapara and Pravat Swain from Dhenkanal fell prey to killer heatwave Monday. Special relief commissioner has confirmed 11 deaths while others are under investigation, sources said.
The industrial town of Angul remained the hottest place in the state for the second day running at 47 degree Celsius while Hirakud was second hottest at 46.6 followed by Titilagarh 46.5, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur 46.4 each and Balangir 46.2 degree Celsius.
Four places including the capital city recorded temperatures above 45 degree Celsius. The capital city broke its past five years’ record and sizzled at a horrifying 45.4 degree Celsius while the humidity level remained at 69 per cent.
As many as 18 places recorded temperature above 43 degree Celsius except for Cuttack and Chandbali at 41.9 and 41.6 degree Celsius respectively. Minimum temperatures at most places hovered between 28 to 30 degree Celsius.
In partial relief for the people of the coastal belt, the Met office here predicted light rain or thundershower at one or two places over the coastal stretch and adjoining districts of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj over next 24 hours while the weather will continue to remain sunny in rest of the state.
Denizens in the city and its adjoining areas may continue to witness blazing sun with mercury expected to remain above 44 degree Celsius while humidity level may remain at a high of 91 per cent in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh continued to reel under intense heatwave which claimed 85 more lives Monday, taking the toll to 517 in six days. There was no let-up in severe heatwave conditions in the two Telugu states as the mercury remained three to six degrees above the average temperatures. While 45 more deaths were reported from Andhra Pradesh, 40 people lost their lives in Telangana Monday.