Sunstroke toll mounts to 4 as heatwave continues in Odisha

One sunstroke death case each was reported in Jajpur and Sonepur districts, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra told reporters.

SRC had received complaints of sunstroke deaths from 46 places, Mohapatra said adding four had so far been confirmed. "Twenty-two cases were found to be death due to other reasons while 20 other cases were under examination by district collectors," he said.

While Bhubaneswar recorded maximum of 40.6 degree celsius from yesterday's 41.4 degree C with relative humidity ratio at 88 per cent, the western Odisha town of Titlagarh reeled under 45.5 degree C temperature, followed by 45 degree C at Sonepur.

 

Other districts which recorded maximum temperature above 40 degree C are Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Mayrubhanj and Angul. Coastal town of Paradip and Puri, however, were cool with maximum templerature remaining within 34 degree Celsius.

The gruelling heat has affected normal life in western parts of the state with people mostly remaining in houses while residents of coastal parts perspired in frequent power cuts.

"We have directed the distribution companies not to go for power cut during the day time," Energy Minister Atanu S Nayak said adding the state was facing a shortage of about 500 MW of electricity during peak hours.

The Met office predicted the heatwave condition would prevail for at least four more days.