Heatwave conditions persisted across Odisha on Thursday, with the mercury climbing to 44 degrees Celsius in two places in the western region, according to the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Center.
The industrial town of Jharsuguda and the coal town of Talcher both recorded maximum temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, the evening bulletin stated.
A total of 24 places across the state recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above during the day.
Titlagarh registered 43.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Angul and Dhenkanal at 43.5 degrees Celsius each, and Hirakud at 43.4 degrees Celsius. Sambalpur and Paralakhemundi each recorded 43 degrees Celsius.
Bargarh logged 42.6 degrees Celsius, while Sundargarh, Nuapada, and Rourkela each recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius.
The capital city of Bhubaneswar reached 42.1 degrees Celsius, while the neighbouring city of Cuttack registered 41.8 degrees Celsius, the bulletin reported.
Other locations where temperatures hit or exceeded 40 degrees Celsius include Bolangir (42.3), Sonepur (42.3), Bhawanipatna (42), Boudh (41.4), Nayagarh (41), Khurda (41), Jagatsinghpur (41), Keonjhar (40.9), Phulbani (40.6), and Jajpur (40.6).
The IMD has forecasted that heatwave and hot weather conditions are likely to continue through Friday across the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Keonjhar, Angul, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
In view of the ongoing heatwave, the Cuttack district collector has extended holidays for schools and colleges for an additional three days, lasting until April 27. Meanwhile, schools will remain closed for the next two days in the Rayagada, Jharsuguda, and Ganjam districts, according to separate orders issued on Friday.
The Khurda district administration has announced morning classes in schools from April 24 until further orders, with classes to be held between 6.30 am and 9.30 am, as per an order by the collector.
