At least eight towns of the State recorded temperature above 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday while Titilagarh recorded highest at 47.6 degrees. Hirakud recorded 46.6 degree and Balngir and Jharsuguda 46 degree. Sambalpur recorded 46.4 degree Celsius while Angul sizzled at 45.1 degree Celsius. Temperature soared to 44.5 in Sundargarh, 42.2 in Talcher 45.7 in Bhawanipatna 45.7, 42.8 in Phulabani 42.8 and 45.2 in Sonepur.
However, the temperature of Bhubaneswar which was 45.4 degree on Monday came down to 39.8 degree. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a 'Red Box' alert predicting blistering heat wave conditions in Odisha, Jharkhand and coastal Andhra Pradesh for two days beginning Tuesday. A 'Red Box' warning usually means high chances of heat stroke, dehydration and fatality with temperatures inching upwards of 45 degree Celsius, worsened by a constant dry, torrid wind. The IMD has warned that temperature in most parts of the State would go beyond 45 degree Celsius in these two days.
Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar Director Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said in the interior districts, there is possibility of a marginal fall in the day temperature in the next 48 hours. However, temperature would hover around 45 degrees in some places. Though the present condition would prevail up to May 31, the intensity of the heat wave would be comparatively less.
Meanwhile, Special Relief Commissioner GVV Sarma discussed the heat wave conditions with the ADMs here and directed them to keep strict vigil on the situation. Temperature in some parts of the coastal districts would come down by 2-3 degrees on Wednesday as there are possibilities of rain or thundershower in these areas due to the formation of a weak trough line stretching from north coastal Andhra Pradesh up to Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Besides, there is also a possibility of Nor'wester at one or two places in the coastal districts.