Western Orissa reels under heat wave

Bhubaneswar, May 29 (IANS) Western Orissa continued to reel under a heat wave Thursday, with Titilagarh town recording the highest temperature of 45 degrees Celsius and most places hovering around 44 degrees, officials said.

The temperatures in coastal districts has come down significantly due to sporadic rain during the past week, a Met official said.

The towns in western Orissa that experienced high temperature are: Titilagarh 45, Sambalpur 44.8, Bolangir 43.2 and Bhabanipatna 44 degrees.

Heat wave conditions are likely to persist till Saturday.

The death toll due to heat wave this summer has gone up to 41, the state revenue control room said. Although the monsoon arrived in the state two days ago ahead of schedule, it has however remained weak.