Three die of sunstroke

Post News Network

Bhubaneswar, May 23: Three persons died Saturday under the impact of prevailing heatwave condition which has taken a toll of 26 lives in the state this season.
According to a report of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), six persons have died in Khurda whereas the toll stood at five in Cuttack. Dhenkanal and Ganjam reported three deaths each while Kendrapara, Puri and Rayagada reported two deaths. One person each died in Mayurbhanj, Bargarh and Dhenkanal, the report added.
The ongoing heatwave has paralysed the day-to-day life in the state with the Met Centre here recording the season’s highest temperature of 46.2 ° Celsius at Titilagarh. Nineteen places have recorded a temperature above 40° C mark.
Unbearable temperature hovering around 46° Celsius was recorded at Bhawanipatna and Jharsuguda while Bolangir, Sambalpur and Hirakud have recorded a maximum temperature of 45.4° and 45° Celsius respectively Saturday.
All arterial roads in Capital Bhubaneswar wore a deserted look Saturday with the city sizzling at a maximum temperature of 42.7° Celsius while the humidity level remaining as high as 78 per cent.
“The heatwave condition is extremely painful. There is no air movement in the city. Not a single leaf moves. The frequent power-cuts are adding to our woes,” said Priyanka Majhi, a resident of Bhimatangi.
Meanwhile, the Met centre here has warned of a difficult phase across the state till the end of May suggesting that the interior pockets will remain the worst-affected due to heat and the coastal belt due to humidity.
“There are chances of a slight dip in the temperature around May 26, 27 across the coastal belt, but it will not be of any help with the mercury rising further later onwards,” said Met director Sarat Sahu.
The skies over the Capital city will remain cloudy in the next couple of days whereas the maximum temperature may touch 42° Celsius. The humidity may stay stagnant and cross 91 per cent during the period.