TNI Bureau: While the unofficial sunstroke death has been put at 80 in Odisha, quoting the local media and NGO reports, the government has rejected the claims and put the toll at 19.

Is the government hiding the truth? Or, it is unaware of the plights of people, who have a torrid time to deal with the scorching summer? All is not well in most parts of Odisha. Sambalpur, Balangir, Titlagarh, Hirakud, Sonepur, Angul, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Baripada, Balasore, Bhadrak, Bhawanipatna, Boudh, Malkangiri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kandhamal and Jajpur are the worst-hit.

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Minister Surya Narayan Patro told the media that the government has received allegations that 78 people died of sun stroke. However, upon investigation, 19 were found to be dead of heatwave, while 49 others died of various other reasons, he said.

The Odisha Government has appealed the people not to venture out of their houses during the peak period of 11 AM till 5 PM. All labour-specific works under the government schemes have been put on hold till further notice.

The mercury level has risen to above 45 degrees and 46 degrees Celsius in many towns in Odisha in the last two days.