BHUBANESWAR: Even as Odisha reeled under excruciating conditions, the India Meteorological department (IMD) on Thursday warned of a severe heatwave in six districts of the state on Friday. It also cautioned people to take safety measures to ward off any threat to health and life.
The national weather agency said heatwave to severe heatwave condition may prevail in Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Angul and Boudh districts on Friday when maximum temperature is likely to hover around 44 degree Celsius in the capital city.
Severe heatwave is declared when a place records temperature which is 6.4 degree Celsius above normal. “There is a possibility that some places in six districts may record severe heatwave conditions on Friday,” said Umasankar Das, a scientist at Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
Another 17 districts will experience heatwave conditions during the same period, he added. This means, at least 23 out of 30 districts of the state will be in the grip of extreme hot and sweltering conditions in the next 24 hours.
On Thursday, at least 17 places recorded 42 degree Celsius or more with capital city Bhubaneswar emerging as the hottest place, with mercury reading 43.6 degree Celsius. This is the highest maximum temperature the state capital has recorded so far in this month. It had earlier logged 43.5 degree Celsius on April 5.
The day had begun on a very warm and uncomfortable note as mercury reached 33.4 degree Celsius at 8.30 am. By 11.30 am, temperature had climbed to 40.6 degree Celsius. In next three hours, the city was sizzling at 43.6 degree Celsius.
So unbearable was the condition on the day that roads wore a deserted look during the peak afternoon hours. While normal life was affected, vehicular traffic remained thin on the national highway no 16. Disturbingly, labourers were found working the NH during the peak hours of the day though the state government has barred such activity in the 11am to 3 pm window.
Besides Bhubaneswar, towns like Balasore, Baripada and four other places also experienced heatwaves. The twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 5.7 degree Celsius and 4.1 degree Celsius above normal maximum temperature on the day.
The only piece of good news amidst the heatwave is the harsh condition is expected to subside from Saturday onwards due to rainfall and thunderstorm activity.
Maximum temperature is likely to fall by 2 degree Celsius to 4 degree Celsius at many places in the state after three days, the weather office said.
Heat torment
Heatwave to severe heatwave condition may prevail in Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Angul and Boudh districts.
On Thursday, at least 17 places recorded 42 degree Celsius or more with capital city Bhubaneswar emerging as the hottest place, with mercury reading 43.6 degree Celsius.
The only piece of good news amidst the heatwave is the harsh condition is expected to subside from Saturday onwards due to rainfall and thunderstorm activity.