Bhubaneswar: With hot and humid conditions likely to prevail across several parts of Odisha from April 11 to 16 and heat wave conditions expected on April 13 and 14, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has written to all district Collectors asking them to take immediate precautionary measures and circulate the yellow warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) among the public.
In a letter addressed to all Collectors, with copies to Principal Secretaries of various departments including Revenue & Disaster Management, Agriculture, Water Resources, Housing & Urban Development, Energy, Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Health, Education, Labour, and others, as well as RDCs, OSDMA, and Director of Municipal Administration, the SRC has directed strict monitoring of the situation.
According to the IMD special bulletin issued on April 10, 2026, the maximum temperature has already shown an appreciable rise of about 3°C at one or two places in north coastal Odisha, while there has been no large change elsewhere. Yesterday’s highest day temperature was recorded at 38.9°C in Boudh, while the lowest minimum temperature was 18.5°C in Jharsuguda.
IMD Yellow Warning Details: April 11 and 12 (Day-2 & Day-3): Hot and humid conditions very likely at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur, Puri, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts.
April 13 and 14 (Day-4 & Day-5): Heat wave conditions very likely at one or two places over Balangir, Bargarh, and Sambalpur districts. Hot and humid conditions very likely at one or two places over the coastal and southern districts mentioned above.
April 15 and 16 (Day-6 & Day-7): Hot and humid conditions very likely at one or two places over the same coastal and southern districts.
The SRC has asked Collectors to ensure wide circulation of the yellow warning message. While the heat is generally tolerable for the general public, it may cause slight health concerns for vulnerable groups such as infants, elderly persons, pregnant women, and sick people.
People have been advised to take precautionary measures while going out during peak hours (around 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM or up to 3:30 PM). They should avoid prolonged exposure to heat, wear light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes, cover their heads with a hat, umbrella or wet cloth, and drink sufficient water even if not thirsty. Use of ORS, lassi, torani, sugarcane juice, lemon water, and buttermilk is recommended to prevent dehydration.
Other important suggestions include avoiding alcohol, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, and high-protein or stale food. Strenuous outdoor work should be scheduled during cooler parts of the day, with more frequent rest breaks. Workers, especially pregnant women and those with medical conditions, need special attention. People should immediately seek medical help if they experience symptoms like dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, or seizures.
Farmers have been advised to continue irrigation for sugarcane, summer maize, pulses, and vegetables. Livestock should be kept in cool, shaded places with adequate drinking water. Children and pets should not be left in parked vehicles. Election rallies and public gatherings during peak hours should be monitored carefully, and participants advised to take necessary precautions.
The SRC has emphasised that the situation should be closely monitored and appropriate action taken as deemed necessary. All concerned departments have been asked to remain vigilant and ensure public safety during this period of rising temperatures.
