Relief from heat wave in Orissa, toll rises to 15

BHUBANESWAR - One more death due to sunstroke was reported in Orissa, taking the toll to 15, although the maximum temperature witnessed a slight dip Saturday, an official said.

Ramesh Sethi, 32, died of sunstroke April 14 at Domadiha village in Sundergarh district, 407 km from here, an official of the state revenue control room told IANS.

“His death has been confirmed by the local administration today (Saturday),” he added.

Rainfall in parts of the state during the past 24 hours have, however, brought some respite for residents.

“Several places in the south and the coastal belt such as Koraput and Rayagada witnessed less then one cm rainfall, as a result of which the temperature registered a slight dip in several places,” an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre said.

The temperature came down to 44.5 degrees Celsius at the district headquarters of Sambalpur, which Friday recorded a high of 46 degrees Celsius.

Similarly temperature also came down in the towns of Titilagarh (44.5), Hirakud (43.2), Jharsuguda (41.8) and Bolangir (44.2). On Friday the temperature recorded was: Titilagarh (45.5), Hirakud (45.1), Jharsuguda (44.9) and Bolangir (44.8).

The Bhubaneswar meteorological centre withdrew its heat wave warning Saturday and said rains and thundershowers could occur at isolated places in the state during the next two days.