Balangir recorded the highest temperature this season with 47.5 degrees Celsius even as the entire Western Odisha is reeling under intense heatwave conditions. Situation is not good in other parts of the state too. The heatwave may persist for another 24-48 hours.
Apart from Balangir, Angul (44.7), Jharsuguda (46.5), Titilagarh (47.0), Sonepur (47.0), Sambalpur (47.4), Sundargarh (46.0), Talcher (46.0) and Bhawanipatna (46.0) too witnessed high temperature.
Meanwhile, the official heat stroke death toll has gone up to 20, but the unofficial toll is much higher. With some rains likely to occur on Monday, people hope to get some respite from the heat wave.