While the State capital on Monday recorded a maximum day temperature of 40.5 degree Celsius, a smart nor’wester accompanied by downpour brought the mercury down in the evening.
However, the western region of the State continued to reel under an intense heat wave with the maximum temperature in the major towns soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.
Titilagarh and Balangir were hottest recording temperatures of 46 degree, followed by Hirakud at 45.6 degree.
As many as 13 cities recorded above 40 degree. The other places which had temperature above 40 degree were Angul (43.7), Jharsuguda (45.5), Keonjhar (40), Sambalpur (43.4), Sundargarh (42), Talcher (43.6), Bhawanipatna (44.7), Phulbani (42.8) and Sonepur (42.3).
Normal life in western Odisha was completely thrown out of gear due to the severe heat wave. The Met department warned that similar conditions would be experienced during next couple of days.
According to a Met Department release, thunder squalls accompanied by hail and gusty surface wind speed reaching 60 kmph are likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Raygada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Deogarh from Monday.