Cyclone Mocha Heralds Return Of Heatwave; Mercury Might Soar To 45°C In Western Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Heatwave is likely to return to Odisha from May 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Friday.

According to the midday bulletin, there will be no large change in the day temperature during the next 3 days and the mercury level may rise by 2-4 degree Celsius in subsequent 2 days at many places in the state.

At 2.30 pm, Jharsuguda was hottest at 41.2 degree Celsius followed by Sambalpur (39), Hirakud (37.8) and Bhubaneswar (36.6).  The highest maximum temperature of 43.4 degree Celsius was recorded at Boudh and Jharsuguda on Thursday. The mercury could touch 45 degree Celsius in Jharsuguda on May 15 and western Odisha is likely to sizzle the following day with temperature hovering between 43 degree Celsius and 45 degree Celsius at almost 13 places, the IMD said.

In view of the gruelling heat conditions, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrat Sahu held a high-level meeting on Thursday which decided to take a host of steps with emphasis on making available drinking water at all market places, bus stands and crowded locations in rural and urban areas of the state.

Meanwhile, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Mocha’ over Central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 8.30 am over the same region, about 530 km west-northwest of Port Blair, 950 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and 870 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar). It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify further over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. It is likely to cross Southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar) around noon of May 14 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph.