Heatwave condition to continue for next 48 hours

Bhubaneswar, May 3 (UNI) Severe heatwave condition preveiled in many parts of Orissa today with maximum day temperature shooting up to around 44 degrees Celsius.

Sundergarh district recorded 44.9 degree Celsius, the highest in the state today.

The capital city Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degree Celsius, the highest in the season.

The maximum temperature in the city yesterday was 41.8 degree Celsius.

While in Cuttack the maximum temperature was 43.33 degree Celsius, Chandbali recorded a maximum temperature of 42, Keonjhar 41.4, Jharsuguda 43.5, Sambalpur 41.8 and Hirakud 43 degree Celsius.

Roads wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors.

The local Met office predicted that the heatwave condition would continue for the next 48 hours.

Rains or thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places over north Orissa but the weather will mainly remain dry over the southern part.

In Bhubaneswar, the weather will be mainly cloudy and the maximum temperature would be around 43 degree Celsius, it said.

Meanwhile, the government confirmed eleven deaths due to sun stroke in different parts of the state.

However, unofficial sources estimated the heat-related toll to be 61.

As per the official sources, while Angul and Khurda reported three deaths each, two died in Dhenkanal, and Jagatsignhpur, Jajpur and Mayurbhanja reported one death each.

A report from Angul said the Talcher industrial belt today recorded 46.5 degree Celsius, throwing normal life out of gear.

However, coal mining areas recorded 48.5 degree Celsius, two degree higher than Talcher.

Talcher recorded a maximum temperature of 45.5 degree Celsius yesterday and 43 degree Celsius the day before yesterday.

Blowing of westerly hot wind combined with air - borne coal dust and coal fire made life intolerable.

The burning of about one lakh tonne of coal by boilers of power plants, plying of about 10,000 heavy vehicles in and around six mega open cast coal mines, massive coal fire and the depletion of green cover have led to the rise in temperature in the area, environmentalists said.

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