Climate Change

Sizzling Odisha: 26 places hit 40°C+

Schools to remain shut from tomorrow

 
By Priya Ranjan Sahu
Published: Monday 25 April 2022

A sweeping heat wave across the state led to Odisha’s School and Mass Education Department April 25, 2022 announce closure of all schools for five days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and above at 27 of its 37 stations in the eastern state. Eight of those stations recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degree while another 16 stations clocked 42 degree Celsius.  

The highest of 44°C was recorded in the western Odisha’s Balangir. Titlagarh, around 70 kilometres away, followed closely with 43.8°C. They were followed by Angul (43.7°C), Sonepur (43.4°C), Jharsuguda and Baripada (43.2°C each), Sambalpur and Talcher (43°C), Hirakud and Deogarh (42.6°C), Boudh, Bhabanipatna and Sundargarh (42.5°C), Kendrapara (42.2°C) as well as Bargarh and Khordha (42°C). Capital Bhubaneswar recorded 40.8°C.

This came on the back of sizzling temperatures April 24 too, when the mercury was at such levels in 26 stations.

Sonepur in western Odisha was the hottest at 43.8°C while capital Bhubaneswar too turned into a veritable heat chamber with the maximum temperature at 43.3°C. Angul and Talcher also recorded maximum temperatures of 43.1°C and 43°Celsius respectively. Some of the other places where the mercury was touched or crossed 40°C were:

  • Balangir (42.3°C)
  • Jharsuguda (42.2°C)
  • Baripada and Boudh (42°C)
  • Sambalpur (41.7°C)
  • Titlagarh and Dhenkanal (41.6°Celsius each)
  • Sundargarh, Nayagarh and Bargarh (41.5°C each)
  • Jagatsinghpur (41.4°C)
  • Jajpur and Chandbali (41.2°C each)
  • Cuttack and Hirakud (41.1°C each)
  • Bhawanipatna, Khordha and Deogarh (41°C each)
  • Paralakhemundi and Bhadrak (40.5°C)
  • Keonjhar (40.4°C)
  • Kendrapara (40.2°C)
  • Malkangiri and Chhatrapur (40°C each)

April 25 the school education department asked all schools, including private ones, to remain shut from April 26. There were, however, no changes in the schedule of examinations for Classes X and XII.

Temperature has been on the rise in Odisha since the beginning of April. The Naveen Patnaik government March 29 alerted all district collectors to take precautionary measures.

No casualties due to heat wave were reported, officials said. Several district administrations, however, have advised people to avoid being outdoors 11 am-3.30 pm, following an advisory by the Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena. Manual work in the open will also be halted during the period.

Jena’s office also asked them to circulate warning messages among citizens.

In the meantime, Odisha chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra asked the power distribution companies to ensure uninterrupted power supply to rural and urban areas of the state.

The direction from the chief secretary came following complaints of unscheduled power cuts in many areas on ground of repair works. 

 

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