No respite from heat wave in Odisha

Bhubaneswar - The blistering heat wave in Odisha is likely to continue for the next four-five days, the weather office here said Saturday.

Many places in the western parts of the state has been witnessing very high temperatures of over 45 degrees Celsius over the past few days.

The present condition is likely to prevail in the region, although the coastal belt may see some cloud formation and may witness a variation of temperature, S.C. Sahu, director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, told IANS.

The interior and western parts of the state are likely to experience high temperatures of either 45 degrees Celsius or more, he added.

Normal life was hit at the district headquarters town of Sambalpur, about 320 km from here, which recorded a high temperature of 46.7 degrees Celsius Friday, an official of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre told IANS.

The deaths due to sunstroke this summer have remained at 10, although unofficial figures have put the toll at over 50, a disaster management department official said.

Roads wore a deserted look in many villages and towns, as people preferred to stay indoors. The frequent unscheduled power cuts in many places, including at the state capital Bhubaneswar, only compounded their plight.

The cities and towns in the state have also been facing acute water shortages, making the situation worse for the residents.