Odisha gets respite from heatwave

After a gruelling heatwave spell, most parts of Odisha today experienced a pleasant respite with the mercury falling in many places though the maximum temperature stood at 42.5 degrees Celsius at Bolangir.
As the mercury dropped considerably in coastal areas following light rains coupled with thundershower, the state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius, down from 40.9 degrees Celsius registered yesterday.
Similarly, the maximum temperature at Cuttack stood at 36.5 degrees Celsius, while it was 35 degrees Celsius at Balasore, the Meteorological Centre here said.
As many as eight places across the state recorded temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, the MeT bulletin said, adding Bolangir in western Odisha was the hottest place in the state with 42.5 degrees Celsius, followed by 42.3 degrees Celsius in Sambalpur, also in the same region.

The maximum temperature in the industrial belt of Jharsuguda was 41.6 degrees Celsius while it was 41.2 degrees Celsius at Hirakud, Bhawanipatna and Sonepur.
The sunstroke deaths confirmed by the state government remained the same at 16. The number of suspected heat-related deaths also stood unchanged at 168, Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office said.
The MeT office forecast thundersquall at some places in coastal region in next 48 hours.