This year, Odisha is enduring a blistering heatwave. The unrelenting scorch of the sun has become so severe that to date, nearly 41 individuals have succumbed to heatstroke. Official reports indicate that there have been around 41 heat-related deaths recorded in Odisha during this torrid season, while 73 other cases are pending investigation. Furthermore, there are allegations of approximately 159 heatstroke-related casualties across Odisha.
Odisha counts 41 lives lost to heatstroke
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) informed that out of the 159 deaths, 41 have been confirmed as heat-related illnesses, whereas 45 have not been attributed to heatstroke. Investigations are still ongoing for the 73 outstanding cases. The SRC disclosed that the latest records include eight dubious deaths from various districts. Autopsies are being mandated by the state government for every suspected heatstroke death to approve the compensation funds.
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Authorities suggest that joint inspections by local revenue and medical officers should be conducted to accurately determine the cause of each death. In Odisha, as most places are grappling with severe heat conditions, daily life has been thrown into disarray, making it extremely difficult for people to step outside their homes.
The Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar reports that the maximum temperature crossed 40 degrees Celsius in 20 locations on Monday. Nuapada, a city in western Odisha, stands as the state's hotspot, registering a scorching 44 degrees Celsius. Other regions like Boudh (42.8), Paralakhemundi (42.4), Bolangir (42.2), and Baripada (42) are also significantly heated.
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Today, the 11th of June, will continue to see the heatwave conditions persist in the districts of Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Khurda, Nuapada, Bolangir, Gajapati, Ganjam, Boudh, and Jharsuguda. Additionally, today, the districts of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, and Puri are likely to endure a hot and humid climate.
