Odisha continues to suffer under severe heatwave conditions, recording 45 suspected heatstroke deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the state’s death toll to 141 as of Sunday.
This brings the nationwide heat-related death count to over 200.
Western districts remain the worst affected, bearing the brunt of the oppressive heat.
According to the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office, 99 deaths have been reported in the past 72 hours alone.
Out of the fatalities reported in the last three days, 20 have been confirmed as sunstroke deaths following postmortem examinations and joint inquiries conducted by district collectors.
Two cases were determined to be caused by factors other than sunstroke.
Since the onset of summer, Odisha has reported a total of 141 alleged sunstroke deaths.
To date, 26 of these deaths have been confirmed as caused by sunstroke, while eight were attributed to other causes, according to the SRC’s office.
Currently, 107 alleged cases are pending investigation at the district level.
The meteorological department forecasts that the heatwave will persist in Odisha for another two days, with heatwave conditions expected in parts of Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Sonepur districts on Monday.
These conditions are anticipated to continue in Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sonepur, and Sambalpur districts on Tuesday.
Slight relief is expected from Wednesday onwards, as the met office has not forecasted heatwave conditions for the subsequent four days.
However, hot and humid weather will likely prevail in some districts on Wednesday and Thursday.
The met office has issued an advisory warning of the significant health risks posed by the extreme heat, particularly for infants, elderly people, pregnant women, and those with existing health issues.
Citizens are advised to take precautionary measures when going outside between 11 am and 3 pm.
On Sunday, Titlagarh recorded the highest temperature at 42.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Balangir and Sonepur, each recording 42.3 degrees Celsius.
Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded temperatures of 38.3 and 36 degrees Celsius, respectively.
With high humidity and no significant rainfall, residents are enduring intolerable conditions.
The state has experienced a 27 percent rainfall deficit between May 23 and 29.
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