BHUBANESWAR: Unprecedented conditions have gripped the State as mercury continued its upward march. With no sign of system-based rain in sight, the State could well be heading for another year of staggering heat.
On Sunday, day temperature almost shot through the roof shattering a 31-year record high by registering 44.1 degree Celsius in Bhubaneswar. By far, it is the hottest April day in the State Capital since April 23, 1985 when the City recorded 45 degree Celsius.
As many as 16 weather stations recorded 40 degree-plus temperature while the weather office was in no mood to offer solace as it maintained that the day temperature might rise further for another seven to eight days.
While the intense heat wave is set to continue, 16 sun stroke deaths have been reported in the State so far. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office has issued a circular to all districts to take preparatory measures to tackle any exigency arising out of the hot conditions.
With the day temperature set to rise in north-western India during middle of next week, the heat wave could actually get worse. “From April 14, the N-W region may heat up which could contribute to a further rise in day temperature. Thunder shower activities can help but there has not been much rain lately. The problem is no system-based rain is in sight as of now,” Director of IMD, Odisha Sarat Chandra Sahu said.
Even as the heat bar continued to rise for the last one week, the thunder shower activities have dried up across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Telengana leaving the region searing.
The deficit in rains in this zone has been ranging from 27 per cent (Odisha) to 57 per cent (Marathwada) between March 31 and April 6. Interestingly, since March 1, the rainfall caused by thunder showers has vanished from Odisha. The met figures show a 48 per cent deficit, highest in the region and it has not helped the cause.
Skymet, an independent weather forecaster, reported that though heat wave abated from the entire Peninsular India, isolated pockets in eastern States have been reeling under intense heat wave with maximum day temperatures four to five degrees above the normal. In some parts, it was as high as seven to eight degree Celsius. For record’s sake, Sunday’s high in Bhubaneswar was a good seven degree above normal. Parts of West Bengal reported similar trend but there was no specific scientific explanation available for the conditions.