Heatwave conditions intensified in the eastern Indian state of Odisha where one person died due to sunstroke on Tuesday but maximum temperatures stayed within normal limits in some northern states while heavy rainfall caused landslides in Mizoram.

Dry weather conditions continued in the national capital with the Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered official for the city, registering a maximum temperature of 38.3 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year. 

Blistering heat swept across Odisha with Titlagarh being the hottest place at 45.5 degrees Celsius. The sunstroke toll also climbed to three following a death reported from Balangir district, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.

Earlier, two sunstroke deaths had been reported in the state, one each in Bargarh and Angul districts, it said adding, 15 cases of suspected sun-stroke deaths reported from different areas are being investigated. The mercury breached the 43-degree mark in eight towns and the 40-degree mark in at least 17 places. Angul recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degrees Celsius, while it was 44.4 degrees Celsius in Talcher, 44 degrees Celsius in Sundargarh, 43.8 degrees Celsius in Bhawanipatna and 43.6 degrees Celsius in Hirakud.

The searing heat did not spare the coastal region also as the temperature shot up in many places, including Chandbali where the mercury touched 41.2 degrees Celsius. Light to moderate rainfall occurred at isolated places in Rajasthan while Churu was the hottest place in the state recording a maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius.

Kota registered a maximum temperature of 39.8 degrees Celsius while the mercury was below the 39-degree mark at other stations, the MeT department said. Nokh in Jaisalmer received 1 cm rains since Monday while Jaipur recorded 2.4 mm rainfall on Tuesday.

Mizoram has been cut off from the rest of the country as landslide, triggered by heavy and incessant rains, blocked the National Highway 54 on Monday. Landslides occurred at several places in the southern part of the state and capital Aizawl. Maximum temperatures at most places in Haryana and Punjab continued to hover close to normal limits providing respite to people from the scorching heat.

In Haryana, Hisar registered a high of 39 degrees Celsius while Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. Amritsar in Punjab recorded a high of 34.6 degrees Celsius, two notches below the normal limit, while Ludhiana recorded a maximum temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius.

The mercury crossed the 40-degree mark at many places in Uttar Pradesh while Etawah was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 42.4 degrees Celsius. In Jharkhand, Jamshedpur and its surrounding areas experienced the hottest day of the season with mercury soaring to 43.9 degree Celsius, affecting normal life.

The weather remained mainly dry in Bihar with Gaya being the hottest place in the state at 41.7 degrees Celsius. Patna registered a high of 40.4 degrees Celsius while Bhagalpur and Purnea recorded maximum temperatures of 39.7 degrees Celsius and 34.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

In Telangana, heatwave conditions are likely to prevail till Wednesday at isolated places, including in Kothagudem, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Khammam, Jagtial, Wanaparthy and Nagarkurnool districts, the state MeT department has said, adding the mercury is likely to be above the 42-degree mark at a few places. Dry weather prevailed in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region with Durg recording the highest maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Source: Timesofoman