Heat wave disrupts normal life in Odisha; Jharsuguda sizzles at 45.5 degrees Celsius

A severe heat wave gripped Odisha on Thursday, with Jharsuguda recording the highest temperature at 45.5 degrees Celsius, disrupting normal life across the state.

Severe heat wave conditions disrupted normal life across Odisha on Thursday, with Jharsuguda recording the highest temperature in the state at 45.5 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.

Roads remained largely deserted during the day as people preferred to stay indoors amid the intense heat, especially in western Odisha.

According to the IMD's Bhubaneswar centre, temperatures crossed 43 degrees Celsius in 10 places and 40 degrees Celsius in at least 24 places across the state.

Bolangir and Sambalpur recorded 44.6 degrees Celsius each, followed by Titlagarh and Hirakud at 44.5 degrees Celsius, Sonepur at 44.3 degrees Celsius and Boudh at 44.2 degrees Celsius.

Talcher recorded 43.8 degrees Celsius, Angul 43.6 degrees Celsius, Bhawanipatna 43.5 degrees Celsius, while Sundargarh and Nayagarh recorded 42.4 degrees Celsius each.

Bhubaneswar witnessed hot and humid weather conditions, with the temperature rising sharply by 5.4 notches from the previous day to settle at 42.2 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity remained above 70 per cent, the weather office said.

Cuttack recorded 40.2 degrees Celsius against 37.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The IMD issued an 'orange warning' (be prepared to take action) for severe heat wave conditions in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bolangir and Nayagarh districts for Friday.

A 'yellow warning' (be aware) was issued for several other districts, including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bargarh, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Puri and Khurda.

The weather office said similar conditions are likely to continue for the next three days.

It also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in several districts, including Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Balasore and Cuttack on Friday afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile, parts of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda received rain and thunderstorms on Thursday evening, bringing some relief from the humid weather, IMD officials said.