The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for 13 districts in Odisha on Monday due to extreme heat and humidity.
The affected districts include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
The regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has forecast that daytime temperatures will rise by 2–3°C across the state over the next three days, with the sweltering conditions expected to persist until May 15.
In addition to the red alert, the IMD has issued yellow warnings for nine districts over heatwave conditions and ten districts for oppressive humidity on Tuesday.
On Sunday, 19 cities in Odisha recorded maximum temperatures above 40°C. Sambalpur emerged as the hottest city with a scorching 43.2°C, followed by Titlagarh (42.5°C) and Bolangir (42°C).
Other hotspots included:
- Sundargarh: 41.8°C
- Angul: 41.7°C
- Jharsuguda & Hirakud: 41.6°C each
- Bhubaneswar, the state capital: 40.7°C
The IMD has cautioned that the extreme heat may pose significant health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions.
- Authorities have urged the public to:
- Avoid direct sun exposure, especially from 11 AM to 4 PM
- Stay indoors during peak heat hours
- Wear light, breathable cotton clothing
- Stay hydrated with ample water, lemon water, buttermilk, or rice water
The oppressive weather has triggered widespread concern, especially in urban centers like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, where humidity levels are also expected to spike.
