Odisha heat wave death toll rises to nine

Bhubaneswar, May 22 (IANS) Odisha Tuesday confirmed five more deaths due to sunstroke in the state, taking the total heat wave deaths this summer in the state to nine.

The latest five deaths have been reported from the districts of Balasore, Boudh and Ganjam respectively, a senior official of the state's disaster management department here told IANS.

While the most deaths (three) were reported from Balasore, one death each was reported in Boudh and Ganjam district, he said.

Those who died in Balasore district were all males and died on May 11, 13 and 17. The local administrations confirmed their deaths due to sunstroke only recently, he added.

The district headquarters town of Subarnapur, about 280 kms from here, Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius, the highest for the day in the state. Several other places recorded 40-45 degree Celsius.