Severe heatwave warning for coastal Odisha

India Meteorological Department today issued severe heat wave warning for coastal Odisha as the mercury shot up to 45.4 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneswar and sunstroke death toll in the state mounted to nine, official sources said.
Though there was respite from the grueling heat in the western region, the mercury soared abnormally in districts like Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Angul and Dhenkanal, besides Bhubaneswar, which had recorded 45.8 degree celsius on April 11.
The higest temperature of 45.4 degree C was recorded at Sonepur and Talcher followed by Bhubaneswar (45.3), Chandbali (44.2), Angul (43.7), Malkangiri (43.6), Dhenkanal and Bhawanipatna (43.2), Cuttack and Bolangir (43), Titlagarh (42.5), Sundergarh (42) and Balasore (41.2).

As many as 17 places across Odisha recorded temperature above 40 degree C as normal life was disrupted in the entire state due to heat wave condition in both the coastal, western and interior region of Odisha.
IMD Regional Director S C Sahu said temperature in interior Odisha would come down by 3-4 degrees Celsius due to overcast conditions and light rainfall in some parts of the region since last two days.
On sudden rise in temperature in the coastal region, Sahu said the wind flow which was from the south-west direction in the morning suddenly changed its course to the north-west direction by 10.30 AM resulting in the steep rise in the temperature.

Asked about the weather forecast for coming days, Sahu said: "If the wind flow continues to be 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 the adjoining districts of Angul and Dhenkanal."

Going by the model indicator, the Met department has sounded a severe heat wave warning in these districts for the next 3-4 days up to May 2, Sahu said.
Meanwhile, a report from the special relief commissioner's office said that the death toll due to sunstroke has increased to nine with a fresh case being confirmed in Keonjhar district.

The number of alleged sunstroke death cases has meanwhile increased to 119 of which nine cases have been confirmed due to the heat related incidents, SRC P K Mohapatra said adding that 69 other cases were under examination of the district colelctors.