Mercury crosses 45-degree mark in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - Severe heat wave continued to sweep across Orissa with Sambalpur town recording the season’s highest of 45.6 degree Celsius Sunday, a Met official said.

People stayed indoors and roads were deserted in several cities and towns across the state, particularly when the heat was at peak.

High temperatures were also recorded at many other places like Hirakud 45.2 (degree Celcius), Titilagarh and Jharsuguda each 45.0 degree Celsius, an official at the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre said.

Other towns in Orissa also saw high temperatures - Baripada (44.2 degrees), Angul (44.3 degrees), Sundergarh (44.5 degrees) and Bolangir (44.2 degrees), he said.

Heat wave condition will prevail over some parts of the state during the next 24 hours, the official added.

The state government has confirmed two deaths due to sunstroke although unofficial reports put the number at 30.