BHUBANESWAR: Residents of the capital city on Sunday sweltered in temperatures of over 43 degrees Celsius, almost five notches above normal, and the highest in the season so far. There seems to be no respite in sight with the Met office issuing a ‘yellow’ warning of heatwave in Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir districts on Monday.
The IMD said the sultry spell will continue in the coastal belt for the next few days, while the heat may become more oppressive in the interior pockets.
“The maximum daytime temperature is likely to increase by three to five degrees Celsius at several places in the interior districts. Coastal and other districts will see no change in temperature,” read the latest IMD bulletin.
“Lack of Nor’westers during the summer months is pushing up the daytime temperature across the state. Usually, rain triggered by Nor’westers occurs between March and May. This year, Odisha recorded 89% less rainfall in February, 96% deficient rain in March and 76% deficit by April 23,” Uma Shankar Das, deputy director of IMD (Bhubaneswar centre), said.
Eight places in the state on Sunday recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 42° C, while 28 places sizzled in 40° C. Sonepur was the hottest at 43.8° C, followed by Bhubaneswar at 43.3° C and Angul at 43.1° C.
Doctors said such extreme weather conditions may cause health problems in infants, elderly and the sick. The state is already seeing a a spurt in heat-related ailments like exhaustion, sunburns and dehydration. People have been advised to take precautionary measures while going out between 11am and 3 pm.
The scorching heat disrupted normal life across the state. Dry winds and high humidity made the heat unbearable for many, especially traffic police personnel, vendors and delivery boys. City roads wore a deserted look.
The state government in the wake the heat wave warning also asked district collectors to be on alert and issued an advisory to take needful steps, said an official at office of the special relief commissioner (SRC).
The IMD also issued an advisory suggesting people to remain indoors when the heat peaks during the day.
