Rain brings respite from heat in Odisha

Rain in many parts of Odisha Sunday brought respite from the heat wave that has claimed at least 22 lives in the state so far this summer, officials said.

The maximum temperatures in state capital Bhubaneswar, which was 39 degrees Celsius Saturday, dropped to 25.8 degrees, while its neighbouring Cuttack town recorded 25.8 degrees Celsius against 38.5 degrees a day ago.

Maximum temperatures also dropped in many other places. It dropped to less than 35 degrees in Sonepur and Bolangir towns that recorded over 42 degrees Celsius in the past weeks.

Temperatures came down by about 10 degrees Celsius in coastal and interior districts, bringing much awaited respite from the heat wave, an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

The coastal Balasore town recorded the highest rainfall Sunday with 96 mm, followed by Bhubaneswar with 91.4 mm, he said.

Heavy rain is likely to occur in some places in the next two days due to low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal, he said.

The office of the state's special relief commissioner here said it has directed the local administrations of six districts - Mayurbhanj, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and Jajpur - to remain alert as heavy rains could trigger flash floods.