Mercury crosses 46 degrees mark in Odisha towns

Odisha continued to reel under intense heat wave while the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted rain and thundershower in several districts of the state.

A total of 16 towns and cities of Odisha on Monday recorded a temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, making people's lives unbearable. Of the 16, two cities recorded the maximum temperatures above 46 degrees Celsius while mercury hovered above 45 degrees in four cities.

Western Odisha town Bolangir suffered a roasting 46.2 degrees Celsius while Jharsuguda recorded 46 degrees. Sambalpur, Hirakud, Titlagarh and Sonepur recorded the maximum temperatures above 45 degrees.

Bhubaneswar Met Centre Director Sarat Chandra Sahu said the intense heat would continue till May 22 even though some parts of the state may experience thundershowers.

Meanwhile, the Met Centre predicted rain in some parts of the state.

"Rain/thundershower likely to occur at one or two places over Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Khordha, Nayagarh and Kandhamal," said a release.

THe Special Relief Commissioner's office said five persons have died due to sunstroke so far.

--IANS

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