District administrations on alert as heatwave sweeps Odisha

In the wake of intense heatwave sweeping several parts of the state, with temperature touching 46.3 degrees Celsius at Bolangir, the Odisha government today put collectors of the concerned districts on alert.
"Keeping the situation in view, collectors of the affected districts have been alerted," an official of the revenue and disaster management department said.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has instructed the collectors to review the situation of the districts at their level on daily basis and ensure that all arrangements to mitigate the effects of the heat wave and water scarcity are in place.
The district administrations have been asked to specifically see that habitations facing water scarcity are supplied with drinking water through tankers.

"The arrangement for treatment of heat-stroke disorder are in place in all the government hospitals and undertake various other measures to tackle heat wave situation as per detailed instructions sent to districts earlier," the SRC told district collectors.
The state government swung into action after heatwave situation prevailed in many of the districts in western and southern parts of Odisha as temperature of 8 districts shot up to 45 degrees Celsius and above today.

Bolangir recorded the highest temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius. Other districts which recorded temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius and above are: Sambalpur-45.8, Jharsuguda-45.7, Titlagarh-45.5, Bhawanipatna-45.5, Hirakud-45.4, Subarnapur-45.2 and Sundargarh-45.0 degrees.

Temperatures at 5 more districts -- namely Talcher, Angul, Phulbani, Malkangiri and Keonjhar -- remained between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius.
In state capital Bhubaneswar, the maximum temperature was recorded at 40 degrees Celsius, the Met office said, adding that heat wave conditions were likely to persist over the next two days.
Normal life was thrown out of gear in most parts of the state with roads presenting a deserted look during the day as many people refrained from venturing out as a precautionary step against heat stroke.