Odisha continued to sizzle under gruelling heat with the temperature soaring above 40 degree Celsius in at least seven places today as monsoon weakened after it hit the state nine days ago.
The capital city of Bhubaneswar remained the hottest place in the state recording a maximum temperature of 42.3 degree Celsius, up from 40.2 degree measured yesterday, the Meteorological centre here said.
The MeT office warned that heat wave conditions would prevail in several districts of the state in the next two days.
While Angul recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3 degree Celsius, the mercury stood at 40.6 degree at Balangir, 40.4 degree Celsius at Baripada, 40.2 degree at Cuttack and Bawanipatna and 40 degree Celsius at Chandbali, it said.
"The sudden increase in temperature was because of weakened monsoon force," the MeT office said adding it is a temporary phenomenon as high level of temperature would help monsoon to revive.
Though the south-west monsoon hit Odisha on June 8 and triggered rainfall in several areas, it had weakened subsequently.