Temp crosses 45-degree mark in eight Odisha districts

Heat wave conditions continued to prevail in Odisha with the temperature crossing 45 degree Celsius in eight of the 30 districts today.
The highest temperature of 46.2 deg C was recorded in the coal belt of Talcher, followed by 46 deg C in Bolangir, 45.7 deg C at Hirakud, 45.5 deg C in Samalpur and Bhawanipatna, 45.4 deg C at Jharsuguda and Sonepur and 45 deg C at Titlagarh, the met office here said.
Though the maximum temperature in state capital Bhubaneswar fell to 38.4 deg C from 40.4 deg C yesterday, the relative humidity ratio touched 79 per cent, it said.

Three deaths have been reported due to sun stroke so far during the current summer.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a high-level meeting during the day to discuss the situation and the steps being taken to meet it.
The meeting was informed that heatwave conditions were likely to prevail in the interior parts of the state for the next three to four days, officials said.
Normal life was hit in many areas with roads presenting a deserted look as people refrained from venturing out and shops and markets remaining closed during day time.