Rain relief for Odisha

Sharp drop in temperature after rains and storm triggered by nor'wester brought relief from the scorching heat in most parts of Odisha today.
The mercury breached the 40 degrees Celsius mark only at five places compared to nine yesterday as the rains that hit the state yesterday appeared to have acted as a coolant.
Malkangiri became the the hottest place in the state recording 41.5 degrees Celsius followed by Jharsuguda town where the mercury stood at 41 degrees Celsius, the Met office here said.
Titlagarh recorded a maximum temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius, while it was measured at 40.4 degrees Celsius in Hirakud and 40 degrees Celsius at Sonepur, it said.

The state capital Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius, down from 38.9 degrees Celsius yesterday, while in Cuttack the mercury dropped to 34.6 degrees Celsius from 36.2 degrees Celsius yesterday, it said.
At least 16 heat-related deaths have been reported in the state so far this summer - four each from Sambalpur and Angul, three each in Bargarh and Sundargarh districts and one each in Balangir and Bhadrak, said the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).