AMN /
Odisha and Telangana continue to face severe heat wave with temperature going up above 48 degree at many places. Normal life in western Odisha was completely thrown out of gear due to intense heat wave conditions. Western Odisha town Titilagarh which has turned the country’s hottest spot in the month of April, yesterday recorded temperature of 48.5 degree Celsius. Prior to this, in April 30, 1999, the maximum day temperature in Titilagarh was 48.1 degree.
Besides, several other parts of Odisha continued to reel under severe heat wave and mercury hovered above 40 degree in 17 places. The Met department warned that a similar condition would prevail during next couple of days. The India Meteorological Department forecast that the heat wave situation was likely to prevail for some more days.
While severe heat wave has badly hit normal life in western and interior Odisha, the water level in some big reservoirs in the State is found to be satisfactory. As per available information, the situation is comparatively better than other states, where the water level in the reservoirs has receded alarmingly.
The current water level of Hirakud reservoir is little higher at 611 feet this month compared to 609 feet in April last year. Official sources said though there has been no substantial rainfall since September last year, the dam authorities have managed to keep the water level at a satisfactory level through proper water management.
Similarly, the water level of Jalaput reservoir in Koraput district has remained one foot above in April this year as compared to the water level 2725 feet in the same month last year. Official sources said in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district, water level is 1477 feet in April this year which is slightly less as compared to the last year. Till now the there is no problem in the reservoir, but there will be problem if there is no adequate rainfall in the ensuing monsoon, experts said.
Telangana too facing severe heat wave conditions with day time temperatures recording above 40 degrees Celsius in almost all districts. Nalgonda recorded maximum temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius during the past 24 hours while Khammam and Ramagundam recorded 45 degrees Celsius.
Met department officials warned people in the state not to venture out between 10Am and 4PM as severe heat wave condition prevail over some parts in the state for next 5 days. Meanwhile, the State government has begun providing summer midday meal in over three thousand drought affected villages in the state.