Odisha virtually turned into a cauldron on Wednesday with at least 25 places recording the maximum temperature at or above 40 degrees Celsius.
The entire western region of the state was in the grip of the sweltering heat and Nuapada became the hottest place in the state with the mercury touching 44 degrees Celsius there.
According to IMD’s evening bulletin of Wednesday, the day temperature breached the 42 degrees Celsius mark in at least nine places, including Bhubaneswar.
Nuapada was followed by Jharsuguda at 43.4 degrees, Talcher at 43.2, Angul at 43.1, Sambalpur at 42.9, Bhubaneswar at 42.8, Sonepur at 42.5, Rourkela at 42.4, and Dhenkanal at 42.3 degrees Celsius.
The day temperature recorded a marginal rise in Bhubaneswar where it was 42.6 degrees on Tuesday. Neighbouring Cuttack City recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, up from 41 degrees on Tuesday.
The IMD in its forecast said that there will be no large change in the day temperature during the next five days. The mercury may soar up to 42°C or more at a few places in Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir, Jharsuguda, and Bargarh in the interior and western parts of the state during the next three days.
“Consequently, hot and uncomfortable weather is very likely to prevail and people are advised to take precautionary while going out during day time between 11 am and 3 pm,” it added.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms with lightning at one or two places in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur and Bhadrak on Thursday.