Heat records continue to tumble in Odisha with day time temperature at Titlagarh on Sunday touching 48.5 degrees Celsius – highest ever temperature measured at this tiny western Odisha town in the month of April.
Titlagarh, known as the hottest place in the State, has been adding 0.5 degree Celsius to its day time temperature since April 21. On Saturday, the mercury had hit 48 degrees Celsius for the first time in this summer.
Sunday’s 48.5 degrees C measured at Titlagarh broke the previous record 48.1 recorded on April 30, 1999. The town had, however, gone past 50 degrees Cel in June 2003. For some mysterious reasons, the tiny town has emerged as heat island in the region.
This summer, Bhubaneswar had also broken its previous record by experiencing 45.8 degrees Celsius on April 11.
“While Titlagarh recorded maximum temperature of 48.5 degrees on Sunday, nearby towns such as Bhawanipatna, Bolangir and Sonepur experienced temperature in the range between 44 and 46 degrees. The rising temperature in one particular place is certainly something to ponder over,” said S. C. Sahu, Director of India Meteorological Department, Odisha, here.
Dr. Sahu said soil condition or wind blowing across the town could be a factor for rising temperature.
On Sunday, 16 stations in Odisha have recorded maximum temperature above 40 degrees Celsius out of which 8 stations recorded above 44 degrees. Titlagarh is followed by Sonepur (46.1 degrees) and Bhawanipatna (45 degrees).
Office of the Special Relief Commissioner has so far received reports regarding death of 88 persons due to sun stroke. On enquiry, death in four cases has been confirmed, while in 28 cases, the death has occurred due to other reasons. The remaining 56 cases are under enquiry.
IMD, Odisha, said: “Hot wind blowing from the west and north-west direction has been causing heat wave across the State. We expect drop of temperature by one to two degrees C in coastal Odisha and heat wave would continue in western and interior pockets of the State.”
“By April 27, if south-westerly wind containing moisture comes in contact with hot wind blowing from north-west direction, it might cause thundershower at some places,” said the IMD official.
