Bhubaneswar: Jharsuguda is boiling under an intense and unrelenting heatwave, becoming one of the hottest hotspots in Odisha. Residents are facing extreme misery as the blistering daytime temperatures combined with warm nights have made life highly uncomfortable, severely disrupting normal routines and forcing people to remain indoors as much as possible.
This extreme heat in Jharsuguda comes close to the town’s all-time highest temperatures recorded in the month of May — 48°C on 28 May 1998, 47.6°C on 24 May 1998, 47.5°C on 20 May 1978, and 47°C on 31 May 2024.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a clear warning that there will be no respite from the severe heatwave across the state until May 24.
The department has issued a ‘severe heatwave’ alert for Sambalpur and Balangir districts from Thursday onwards, with night temperatures also likely to remain higher than normal in Sambalpur, Balangir, and Sundargarh.
In coastal Odisha, although daytime temperatures are relatively lower at 36–38°C, humidity levels above 70% are making the conditions feel like 50°C, leaving people gasping for comfort both day and night.
The state government, has, meanwhile, strongly advised citizens to avoid outdoor activities between 11 am and 3 pm, stay well hydrated, and extend special care to children, the elderly, and those suffering from illnesses.
With no immediate signs of cooling, the harsh summer is expected to continue its grip over the state for the next few days.
