Heat wave claims 41 lives in Odisha

After a brief lull, blistering heat wave has returned in Odisha, raising the mercury above 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state, a weather official said on Tuesday.

"The toll due to sunstroke has touched 41 and the state government has received 165 complaints of alleged sunstroke death cases," said an official of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).

The mercury showed an upward trend with Sambalpur recording the maximum temperature of 42.9 degrees Celsius. A total of nine cities experienced temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. This is despite the rainfall a few days ago that briefly brought down the temperatures in the state, according to wetherman.

The capital city Bhubaneswar recorded 41.7 degrees Celsius.

"The temperature would hover above 40 degrees Celsius till June 11, despite sporadic rainfall at some places in the state. And the temperature would subside after June 11 following the onset of pre-monsoon rainfall," said Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) director Sarat Chandra Sahu at Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, the office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has confirmed 41 deaths due to sunstroke. Eight of these deaths took place in Ganjam district, six in Kendrapada and five in Bargarh district, said a release of SRC.