45 dead in Odisha reportedly due to heatstroke

As the entire western region of Odisha sizzled with the highest temperature touching 46 degree Celsius in Sonepur, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted heat wave conditions in some parts of the state, including the coastal region where mercury levels have marginally dropped.

Heat wave conditions prevailed in many parts of interior and some parts of coastal Odisha. Severe heat conditions were likely to prevail at one or two places, an IMD bulletin said.

45 people are suspected to have died from sunstroke. "45 persons are reported to have died due to sunstroke in Odisha, said Prabhat Ranjan Mohpatra, Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha.

However, the state government has denied any heat stroke related death in the state. "Of the 45 alleged sunstroke death cases, 12 were examined by the district collectors and none of them died due to heat related incidents," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra said.

Maximum temperatures were marked above normal over north interior Odisha, appreciably above normal over northern coastal and southern interior regions and above normal in south coastal Odisha, the bulletin said.

Sonepur recorded the highest temperature at 46 degree Celsius, followed by 45 degree and 44.4 degree in Sundergarh and Bhawanipatna respectively. Titlagarh recorded 44 degree Celsius, it said.

As many as 16 towns in the state recorded temperature above 40 degree Celsius.

Temperature in the state capital was recorded at 40.3 degree Celsius with relative humidity at 79 per cent, the weather department said, adding that the industrial town of Angul recorded 43.7 degree Celsuis, followed by Sambalpur (43.6), Talcher (43.8) and Bolangir (43.5).