Bhubaneswar: With the scorching sun beating down relentlessly, Bhubaneswar emerged as the hottest place in Odisha for the second time this month as the mercury soared above 40 degrees Celsius.
At 2:30 PM today, the capital city of Odisha recorded a sweltering maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest spot in the state. Following closely behind were Jharsuguda at 42.6 degrees Celsius and Balasore at 42.2 degrees Celsius, as reported by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
In addition to Bhubaneswar, five other places in Odisha experienced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Sambalpur registered 41.7 degrees Celsius, Hirakud at 41.4 degrees Celsius, Chandbali at 41.4 degrees Celsius, Keonjhar at 40.9 degrees Celsius, and Rourkela at 40.2 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the coastal towns of Paradeep, Puri, and Gopalpur experienced relatively cooler temperatures, with readings of 36.3 degrees Celsius, 35 degrees Celsius, and 34.8 degrees Celsius respectively, recorded by 2:30 PM today.
The relentless heatwave gripping most parts of the state has left residents and commuters grappling with sweltering conditions. The morning hours offered little respite, with temperatures already soaring above 40 degrees Celsius by 11:30 AM. Bhubaneswar and Balasore recorded 40.6 degrees Celsius, while Chandbali and Jharsuguda reached 40 degrees Celsius. Sambalpur and Keonjhar experienced temperatures of 39.7 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius respectively.