1 Dead, Over 120 Hospitalised in Odisha As Temperatures Sizzle Past 40°C

Bhubaneswar: A severe heatwave has led to at least 124 hospitalisations across 16 districts in Odisha, with one reported death as of yesterday.

Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra confirmed the grim statistics, highlighting Sundargarh district as the worst affected with 32 hospitalisations in Sundargarh town and 12 in Rourkela City. Bhubaneswar’s Capital Hospital followed with 15 cases, while Angul and Mayurbhanj reported 10 hospitalisations each. Other districts have seen lower numbers, but the scorching heat remains a cause for concern.

Today, temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius or above in eighteen places across the state. Paralakhemundi recorded the highest temperature at 42.8°C, followed by Nayagarh (42.2°C), Bhubaneswar, and Bolangir (41.8°C each).

The IMD regional centre in Bhubaneswar forecasts a marginal change in maximum temperatures over the next 48 hours, with a gradual increase of 2°C to 4°C in the subsequent three days.

The public is advised to take precautionary measures when outdoors between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, as per a special bulletin from the IMD regional centre.