Heatwave conditions in Odisha, 7 towns record temp above 40 C

Odisha continues to reel under heatwave condition with seven towns recording temperatures above 40 degree Celsius today, the Met department said.

In view of the intense heatwave condition across the state, Odisha government has issued an advisory asking labourers to refrain from outdoor work during afternoon, said Labour Minister Sushant Singh.

"The labourers have been restricted from working outdoors between 11 am and 3 pm to prevent cases of sunstroke," the minister said.

Angul was the hottest place in the state today at 41.9 degree Celsius while the other towns which recorded temperatures above 40 degree Celsius are Chandbali (40.2), Baripada (40.4), Bolangir (40), Titlagarh (41), and Sambalpur (40.1).

The state capital Bhubaneswar, which sizzled at 42.3 degree Celsius yesterday, today recorded a temperature at 39.6 degree Celsius due to thundershower last evening.

India Meteorological Departments (IMD) regional office in Bhubaneswar in its latest report said that heatwave condition was likely to prevail at one or two places in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Bolangir, Sonepur, Angul and Boudh.

The Met office also said that the weather may change and there may be some respite from the heat with monsoon rain likely on June 23 and 24.

Meanwhile, Deputy Special Relief Commissioner, Pravat Ranjam Mohapatra told reporters here that seven persons had died of sun stroke in the state in April this year.

A total of 45 cases of suspected sun stroke deaths were reported this summer, out of which seven cases of April have been confirmed as heat stroke deaths, he said.

Mohapatra said: "Inquiry into the remaining 38 cases is pending due to a delay in getting post-mortem reports.