Malkangiri, Hirakud sizzle at 44 deg C, coastal Odisha sultry

Malkangiri in southern region and Hirakud located in western parts of Odisha today recorded temperature of 44 degrees Celsius each, while the entire coastal belt experienced sultry weather with high humidity level of above 90 per cent.
As many as 12 places in the state recorded temperature above 40 degrees Celsius.
Malkangiri and Hirakud were followed by Sonepur (43.8), Bhawanipatna (43.2), Jharsuguda (42.7), Bolangir (42.5), Sambalpur (42.4) and Titlagarh at 42 degrees Celsius, a Met office report said.
Though mercury level dropped in the coastal belt, high humidity level created a sultry weather causing lot of sweat. Bhubaneswar, which recorded temperatures at 37.9 degrees Celsius, experienced humidity at 94 per cent, IMD officials said.

The death toll due to sunstroke remained unchanged at 20, according to the Special Relief Commissioner's office.