Bhubaneswar: With mercury levels rising to the season's highest of 44.3 degree celsius in Talcher district, Orissa is reeling under heat wave conditions with fewer people venturing out for past two days.
Talcher in the coal belt area and its adjoining areas sweltered as the mercury soared 44.3 degree celsius, while neighbouring Angul recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 degree celsius on Saturday, a MET official said on Sunday.
The heat wave intensified in western Orissa with districts like Balangir recording a high 43.4 degree Celsius followed by 43.2 degree celsius in Sambalpur and 43 degree celsius in Sundargarh, Titilagarh and Jharsuguda on Saturday, the department said.
In the state capital Bhubaneswar, the maximum temperature stood at 38.6 degree celsius, while in neighbouring Cuttack it was 39.7 degree celsius, they said.
Fewer people are venturing out due to the intense heat wave conditions which is also a cause of inconvenience to poll campaigners in different parts of the state.