Heatwave to prevail in Orissa, toll rises to 15

Bhubaneswar, May 4 (UNI) Heat wave condition continued to prevail over certain parts of Orissa with the maximum day temperature hovering around 40 to 44 degrees Celsius.

Sundergarh was the hottest place where mercury touched to 44.4 degrees followed by Anugul 44.1, Jharsuguda 44.1, Titilagarh 44, and Bolangir 43.4.

Keonjhar recorded a maximum temperature of 42.5, Sambalpur 41.4, Hirakud 42.9 and Phulbani 41.2.

However the temperature in Puri was 33, Gopalpur 32.5 Paradeep 33.5 The situation in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack had improved a bit today with the maximum temperature falling around four degree celsius.

Bhubaneswar today recorded 39.9 degrees from 44 degrees yesterday. Similarly the temperature in Cuttack fell to 39.1 today from 43.3 degrees yesterday.

The weathermen predicted that the heatwave condition would prevail in certain parts of the state during the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar is likely to be around 41 degrees tomorrow.

The Orissa government has ordered to close down the educational institutions as a precautionary measure in view of the heat wave condition and regulated the plying of buses.

Meanwhile, the deaths due to sunstroke went up to 15 today.

While three deaths were reported each from Anugul, Dhenkanal, and Khorda, two died in Jagatsinghpur, and the heat wave claimed one death each in Jajpur, Mayurbhanja, Puri and Sambalpur.

UNI BD PC RN1931