Odisha's Titlagarh sees highest temperature in India

Titlagarh in Odisha on Sunday registered a maximum temperature of 48.5 degrees Celsius, the highest in the country, while 17 other places recorded above 40 degrees, as people continued to reel under the blistering heat wave.

The state government confirmed four deaths due to sunstroke, while it has received unconfirmed reports of 88 deaths due to heat stroke.

The western town of Titlagarh recorded the highest temperature in the country for the third consecutive day.

It also broke the all-time record in the month of April on Sunday, said Bhubaneswar Met department director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

Titlagarh had recorded 48.1 degrees on April 30, 1999 while it had registered 50.1 degrees on June 5, 2003.

Other towns that recorded over 40 degrees are Sonepur (46.1), Bhawanipatna (45), Talcher (44.8) and Bolangir (44.5), while state capital Bhubaneswar recorded 41.8 degrees Celsius.

"The heat wave would continue (for some time) in several parts of the state. However, there may be thunderstorms in some parts of the state on April 26," said Sahu.

An official at the special relief commissioner's office said 32 death cases were inquired into by district collectors.

While 28 deaths occurred due to some other reasons, four people were confirmed to have died due to sunstroke. The other cases are being inquired into, he said.

--IANS

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