The sizzling heat wave sweeping Odisha for the last couple of days continued to cripple normal life on Tuesday, as the temperature hovered over 40 degrees Celsius in most places in the state.
The state government on Tuesday received reports of 24 deaths due to sunstroke, as 19 towns recorded temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.
While Titlagarh recorded the highest temperature of 44.5 degrees, state capital Bhubaneswar, which had registered 45.8 degrees on Monday breaking the all-time record in the month of April, on Tuesday recorded 42.9 degrees.
All the roads in Bhubaneswar wore a deserted look almost throughout the day.
Bhubaneswar Met department director Sarat Chandra Sahu said the heat wave conditions would continue for at least one week more in many parts of the state.
Meanwhile, the grievance cells at the offices of the chief minister, district collectors and superintendents of police will remain closed due to the intense heat wave, the chief minister's office said in a release.
The leaves of officials of the rural water supply department have been cancelled.