Titlagarh is inching towards breaking all-time temperature record for the month of April after the mercury hit 48-degrees Celsius mark in this tiny western Odisha town on Saturday.
Titlagarh, known as the hottest place in the State, has been experiencing an increase of 0.5 degree Celsius on daily basis since April 20. In the last one decade, Titlagarh had never crossed 46 degrees C in April. The town on April 30, 1999, had set the highest temperature record at 48.1 degrees. On Friday, the temperature was recorded at 47.5.
Life in the western Odisha town has been completely paralysed. People choose to remain indoors after 11 am. In addition to rising temperature, intermittent power cut has made life miserable.
The western Odisha region is reeling under intense heat wave as several towns recorded temperature above 46 degrees Celsius. Industrial town of Talcher experienced 46.8 degrees Celsius. It is followed by Sonepur where day time temperature was measured at 46 degrees C. The day time temperature remained above 45 degrees at eight towns. In 18 districts, temperature soared beyond 40 degrees.
In view of rising temperature and worsening availability of drinking water in all districts, the State government has cancelled holidays of engineers handling drinking water projects.
Meanwhile, the Heat Island study for Talcher-Angul area as per Climate Change Action Plan got underway.
“The heat island study is unique as it covers more than 3,000 sq km area covering both urban and rural areas. Earlier, only urban areas were focus of this type of study. The Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi, which has been assigned to conduct the study, has already installed equipment to measure atmospheric condition,” said N. R. Sahu, senior environment scientist of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board.
Mr. Sahu said: “The study will assess the impact of urbanisation, mining and industrial operations on rising temperature. For the past few years, Angul and Talcher have been recording high temperature.” The study will be completed within one year.
The State government on Saturday confirmed four sunstroke deaths.
The Office of Special Relief Commissioner on Saturday urged people to remain indoors as the India Meteorological Department predicted that this heat wave situation was likely to prevail for some more days.
Titlagarh inching towards breaking temperature record for the month of April
