Bhubaneswar: With entire Odisha virtually becoming a boiling cauldron amid intense heatwave, the capital city of Bhubaneswar boiled at 43.6°C by 11.30 am on Tuesday.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Balasore was the hottest place in the state by 11.30 am recording 44.1 degree Celsius, while Odisha came next.
Similarly, Jharauguda recorded 42.5 degree Celsius, followed by Keonjhar with 41.4 degree, Chandbali 41.2 degree Rourkela with 40.4 degree Celsius, Hirakud 39.9 degree Celsius and Sambalpur 39.8 degree Celsius.
As per IMD, heatwave to severe heatwave condition may prevail in the districts of Khurda, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Angul and Cuttack during the day.
Heatwave condition is also likely in Sambalpur, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Khurda, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur, Deogarh, Nuapada Sundergarh, Rayagada, and Jharsugada.
Hot and humid weather warning has also been issued for Nabarangpur, Gopalpur, Bargarh, Rayagada, Koraput, and Puri.
The heatwave conditions may persist till May 3 during which the day temperature is likely to remain 3-6°C above normal in some districts.
On Monday, Baripada in Mayurbhanj district was the hottest place in the state at 44.8°C, followed by Angul (44.3°C), Boudh (44.1°C), Talcher (44°C), Titilagarh (43.5°C), Dhenkanal (43.2°C) and Nayagarh, Malkangiri, Balangir, Keonjhar and Nuapada at 43°C each. Bhubaneswar recorded 41.3°C showing considerable drop in temperature, while the mercury stood at 42.5°C in Cuttack city.
The state has already experienced 17 heatwave days in two spells this month against the usual of 11 between April and June. With hot weather condition dangerously tightening its grip over Odisha and weather agency predicting continuation of the same till May 9, this season could turn out to be the worst since since 1998 when the state had seen 27 heatwave days between mid-April and May.
