Other States - Orissa   

Mercury level on the rise

BHUBANESWAR: After experiencing one of the coldest months of January and February of the decade this year, Orissa has found itself in the hot zone.

The daily temperature since the beginning of March this year, which is considered as the first month of summer, has been recorded to be almost two degree higher than the corresponding period last year.

According to comparative figures prepared by the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, the daily temperature during the last 11 days has been hovering between 34 degree Celsius and 36 degree Celsius while in 2007 it was between 31 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius.

Similar was the situation in Cuttack, the second biggest city of the State. The mercury level rose to the highest 37.4 degree Celsius in Cuttack on March 6 while it was recorded 33.1 degree Celsius the same day last year.

Except coastal towns of Puri and Gopalpur, the daily temperatures recorded at Bhawanipatna, Titlagarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Balasore are on the higher side than the temperature on same day last year.

Keeping the fluctuating temperature in mind, the State government on Monday directed to go for morning classes from April 1.

It also asked the Education Department to ensure that all examinations were completed by April 15.

Employers have also been prohibited not to engage wage earners in the field from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A high-level meeting attended by heads of several departments also decided to take care of drinking water needs and stock life saving drugs, ORS packets and other cooling facilities to combat with possible sun-stroke cases.

However, the Met centre predicted that the summer could be a moderate one. “Heatwave for the year 2008 will not be as strong as 2005 but not as weak as 2006,” it said.

Heatwave conditions prevailed for 40 days in 2005 while it was less than a week in 2007.

Daytime temperature has been continuously hitting 45 degree Celsius every year during last one decade. In 2003, the temperature touched 50.1 degree Celsius at Titlagarh, known as the hottest spot of the State.

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