Odisha sizzles amid soaring temperature

The heatwave condition further intensified in most parts of Odisha, mainly in the western region with Jharsuguda becoming the hottest place in the state recording 45 degree Celsius.
As the mercury breached the 44 degree mark in four towns and 40 degree mark in at least 12 places in the state, the Met office predicted that intense heatwave conditions would persist for some more days.
While Balangir town recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degree celsius, it was 44.1 degrees at Hirakud, 44 degrees at Titlagarh, 43.7 degrees at Sonepur, 43.6 degrees at Sambalpur, 43.5 degrees at Angul and 43.2 degree celsius at Bhawanipatna, it said.

Keonjhargarh recorded 41.5 degree celsius, while the mercury stood at 41 degrees in Phulbani town and Malkangiri, the Met office said.
Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 36.5 degrees, while mercury stood at 35.6 degrees in neighbouring Cuttack. There was little respite from the scorching heat in most places of interior part of Odisha.
However, some areas of the coastal belt got some relief because of a thunder squal.
Two sunstroke deaths have so far been reported in the state, one each from Bargarh and Angul district, according to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner.