Bhubaneswar: Even as nor’wester and hailstorm hit parts of the state, 7 places recorded temperature of 40 degree Celsius or more on Wednesday.
As per the temperature record issued by regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave condition continued to prevail in western Odisha. Balangir was the hottest place in the state with maximum temperature of 41.8 degree Celsius, followed by Titlagarh with 41.3 degree on the day.
While Boudh recorded 41 degree Celsius, it was 40.6 degree in Jharsuguda, 40.4 degree in Sambalpur, and 40 degree Celsius each in Bhawanipatna and Sonepur.
Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy died in lightning strike as nor’wester hit a village under Papadahandi block of Nabarangpur. The incident took place when the boy had taken shelter under a tree due to heavy sand storm accompanied by rain and the lightning struck him. Similarly, Sunabeda town in Koraput district witnessed hailstorm on the day.
According to temperature forecast of the IMD in its evening bulletin, no major change in maximum temperature (day temperature) is likely during next 5 days. Maximum temperature is very likely to be above normal by 2 to 3 degree Celsius at a few places in interior Odisha and also will be more than 40 degree Celsius at a few places during the period.
In its weather forecast valid upto 8.30 am of Thursday, the Met office has stated that light to moderate rain/thundershower is very likely to occur in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal,
Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Jajpur, Boudh, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Balangir and Nayagarh districts.