The first sign of a scorching summer presented itself on Monday when mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius in western Odisha town Balangir.
It is the highest day temperature of the season so far. If Balangir was virtually simmering, other districts of the region also felt the heat. At least eight other towns recorded temperature in excess of 38 degrees Celsius on the day. While Titlagarh came close and recorded 39.5 degrees, Bhawanipatna, Hirakud, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda recorded above 38 degrees Celsius.
In interior Odisha, mercury touched 38 degrees C at Angul as well as Phulbani. Southern Odisha district Malkangiri also reported 38.8 degrees C on the day. The India Meteorological Department warned of a further rise in the day temperature. “Although rain and thundershowers are likely at some places, there is possibility of a steep rise in temperature across the State,” its bulletin said.
Coastal pockets of the State though were spared the high temperature, humid conditions made life uncomfortable for the people.