Odisha heat wave deaths rise to 21

Bhubaneswar, May 22 (IANS) Odisha authorities Thursday confirmed the death of one more person due to sunstroke, taking the deaths on account of the heat wave in the state to 21.

Rupa Sethi, a 70-year-old resident of Keuta Khandia village in Kendrapada district, died April 18, but the local administration confirmed the death only Thursday, a revenue department official told IANS.

The heat wave has intensified further, with Titilagarh town in Bolangir district, about 400 km from Bhubaneswar, recording 45 degrees Celsius Thursday, the season's highest in the state.

While the Sambalpur remained the second hottest place at 44.9 degrees Celsius, nearby Hirakud town sizzled at 44.2 degrees.

The mercury also soared in many other places. People stayed indoors and roads wore a deserted look in many places.

Frequent power outages also made life difficult in Bhubaneswar, which recorded a maximum temperature of 41.4 degrees Celsius.

The situation is unlikely to change although light rain or thundershowers may occur at some places in the next few days, the official said.