Hottest day in city at 45.9 degree C in seven years

--City witnessed 46.3 degree C in June 12, 2005

BHUBANESWAR: The capital city recorded the highest temperature of 45.9 degree Celsius on Monday within seven years period. City’s temperature even surpassed State’s hottest place Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Anugul on the day. According to the Bhubaneswar Met Department, the city had recorded highest temperature of 46.3 on June 12, 2005.   

This unprecedented rise in the mercury level left life in the city literally paralysed between 11 am and 4 pm. It was just unbearable outside as well as inside the house where fans were of no help due to frequent power cuts. The roads and market places wore a deserted look in the noon time.  

In Cuttack also the mercury level touched 43 degree C one of the highest temperatures recorded this year. The situation was similar other districts of the State. Besides the capital city, maximum temperatures at fifteen places of the State were recorded at 4o degrees plus while Baripada and Talcher recorded the highest temperature of 46 degree C each after the capital city.

Sunstroke deaths touched 105 non-officially and 30 officially in the State. The highest numbers of six sun stroke deaths were reported from Balasore followed by Mayurbhanj 4, Sonepur and Sundergarh three each, Ganjam and Jajpur two each. Khurda, Anugul, Baragarha, Bolangir, Boudh,Cuttack,Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara reported one death each.

According to the local Met office, heat wave conditions may prevail over some parts of interior Odisha during next 24 hours. Thunder squall accompanied with hailstorm and gusty surface wind with speed reaching 60-70 km per hour may occur at one or two places during next 24 hours, said centre director Sarat Mishra.

Amidst all the tension and tyranny of heat, the people are impatiently waiting for monsoon predicted to touch Kerala coast by June first week and enter Odisha by the end of second week.