At 46.7 degrees, Odisha bakes in blistering heat

Bhubaneswar, May 25 (IANS) A blistering heat wave sweeping across Odisha intensified with one of its towns Friday recording a temperature of 46.7 degrees Celsius, the highest of the day in the state, officials said.

Normal life was hit at the district headquarters town of Sambalpur, about 320 km from here, which recorded this high temperature, an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

While two other towns Sundergarh and Hirakud in the state's western parts too recorded high of 46 and 46.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, several other places reeled under temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature recorded at the state capital Bhubaneswar and its adjoining Cuttack city was slightly less. They witnessed 42 and 40.5 degrees Celsius, respectively, said the official adding that heat wave conditions may prevail in some parts of the state Saturday.