With the onset of March, Odisha is in the grip of a severe heatwave as temperatures continue to soar across the state. Titilagarh has become the hottest spot, recording an intense 38.5°C today.
A total of eleven cities across Odisha have reported temperatures exceeding 37°C, according to weather scientist Umashankar Dash. Following closely behind Titilagarh, Jharsuguda recorded a temperature of 38.2°C, while Balangir saw 38°C. Sonepur and Angul both hit 37.7°C, with Sambalpur at 37.6°C, Sundergarh at 37.5°C, Bhawanipatna at 37.2°C, Hirakud at 37.1°C, and Boudh and Baripada both at 37°C.
In contrast, the state capital, Bhubaneswar, and the neighboring city of Cuttack, experienced slightly lower temperatures of 34.2°C.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the heatwave will persist, with no significant changes in minimum and maximum temperatures expected over the next 4-5 days.
Residents are advised to take the necessary precautions to stay safe during this period of extreme heat.