Bhubaneswar: Odisha continue to reel under extremely severe heatwave conditions as the mercury crossed 40 degrees Celsius in at least 23 places in the state on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
According to the evening bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda remained the hottest place in the state with the maximum temperature of 45.5°C.
In state capital Bhubaneswar, the mercury soared to 42.2°C from 36.8°C recorded the previous day.
As many as 23 places across the state experienced gruelling heatwave conditions with temperatures crossing the 40°C mark.
Sambalpur and Balangir both recorded 44.6°C, followed closely by Hirakud and Titlagarh at 44.5°C. Other places like Sonepur (44.3°C), Boudh (44.2°C), Talcher and Bhawanipatna (43.8°C each), and Anugul (43.6°C) also reported extreme heat.
Both Nayagarh and Sundargarh recorded 42.4°C, Bargarh (42.3°C), Malkangiri and Khurda (42.0°C each) remained under severe heat stress. Phulbani recorded 41.6°C, Dhenkanal 41.4°C, Keonjhar 41.3°C, Kendrapada 41.2°C, Rourkela 41.1°C, and Baripada 40.4°C.
The prolonged heatwave has left residents struggling with the scorching conditions, with no immediate relief in sight as the mercury continues to hover at unusually high levels across most parts of the state.
The weather agency has predicted no immediate relief from the prevailing heat conditions. As per the forecast, the state is unlikely to witness respite from the intense heat till May 26. Weather officials further warned that temperatures could rise by an additional two degrees Celsius over the next five days.