Rain, hailstorm in coastal dists but heat wave on in Odisha

There was no respite from the gruelling heat in Odisha and the sunstroke toll increased to 10 despite rain and hailstorm in the coastal districts this afternoon.
The toll in sunstrokes in the state mounted to 10 today with a fresh case confirmed in Sambalpur district, a report from the special relief commissioner's office said.
The highest temperature of 43.7 degrees C was recorded in the industrial town of Angul, Met office sources said adding the heat wave would continue for the next three days.
While the Western districts recorded temperature about two to three degree less, the coastal region continued to witness rise in the mercury level.

Bhubaneswar recorded 43.5 degree C with relative humidity level recording at 82 per cent. In the afternoon the city was lashed by hailstorm and rains much to the relief of the people.
A number of trees were uprooted and power supply was disrupted for some hours in the city. Neighbouring Cuttack too experienced the downpour.

IMD Regional Director S C Sahu said though the temperature has come down in western and interior districts by three to four degrees Celsius due to the overcast sky, the situation is different in the coastal region.
"If the wind continues to blow from the west and north-west direction, there would be a further rise in temperature in Bhubaneswar and other coastal pockets in Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, some parts of Puri district and adjoining districts of Angul and Dhenkanal."

As many as 14 places in the state recorded temperature above 40 degree C during the day besides Angul and Bhubaneswar. They included Baripada (43.6), Talcher and Bhawanipatna (43.5).
The number of alleged sunstroke death cases has meanwhile increased to 124 of which 10 have been confirmed as heat related ones, Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said.