Blistering heat returned to western Odisha after a few days of break with the maximum daytime temperature touching 46 degrees Celsius at Bolangir and Titlagarh on Monday.
Jharsuguda and Hirakud, two other western Odisha towns, recorded above 45 degrees C during the day. Temperature soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius-mark in as many as 13 towns of the State.
Normal life was affected in districts like Bolangir, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Subarnapur, Boudh, Angul, Nuapada and Sundargarh districts. Roads wore deserted look while residents preferred to stay inside their houses.
Although temperature remained around 40 degrees C in most coastal locations in the State, high humidity level had made life miserable. Frequent power failure was also making the matter worse.
Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre warned that similar condition would prevail in most parts of the western Odisha and coastal parts for next three to four days. Humidity level was 93 per cent at Gopalpur on Monday morning while the same above 80 per cent in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Paradip.
Meanwhile, several places including Bhubaneswar received moderate rain under the impact of Kalbaisakhi. Although rain cooled the temperature a bit, people were sweating profusely due to high humidity.
Over 20 persons have been confirmed to have died due to sunstroke while in cases of 80 allegations, deaths had occurred for some other reasons.
