The State capital continued to sizzle with the mercury shooting up to 41.8 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making it the hottest place in Odisha for the second day running.
The city had recorded a highest temperature of 41.3 degrees on Friday. Normal life was thrown out of gear at most places including Bhubaneswar due to the intense heat wave. Most of the trading establishments downed their shutters by noon while the busy thoroughfares and market places wore a deserted look all afternoon. Apart from Bhubaneswar, temperature went up to 40 degrees Celsius and above in Angul (41.3), Baripada (40.8), Jharsuguda (40.3), Sambalpur (40.5), Hirakud (40.1), Talcher (40.5), Bhawanipatna (41.5), Balangir (40), Phulbani (40.2), Titlagarh (41.5), Malkangiri (40.8). Against an average temperature of 33-36 degrees during the period, the temperature this year had gone up much higher due to north-westerly wind, Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar Sarat Sahu told media persons. He said the heat wave conditions may prevail over some parts of north, interior and coastal districts during the next 48 hours as well.