Heat wave on in W Orissa, toll 126

Despite fall in mercury level below 40 degree Celsius in most parts of coastal Orissa on Tuesday, heat wave continued unabated in western and interior parts as suspected sunstroke death rose to 126, official sources said.

Despite fall in mercury level below 40 degree Celsius in most parts of coastal Orissa on Tuesday, heat wave continued unabated in western and interior parts as suspected sunstroke death rose to 126, official sources said.

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Titlagarh recorded maximum 46 degree celsius followed by 45.2 Degree celsius in balangir.

With one fresh casualty reported from Jagatsinghpur district, the toll due to suspected sunstroke, which stood at 125 till yesterday, went up to 126, the sources said.

While the state government confirmed only 31 deaths due to sunstroke, 52 cases were attiributed to reasons other than heat related incidents. Remaining 43 cases were being examined, the sources said.

Khurda reported the highest toll of 17 deaths followed by Dhenkanal (13) and Jajpur (12) as 21 of the state's 30 districts reported sunstroke deaths during this summer.

The places which recorded above 40 degree celsius were Balangir (45.2), Bhawanipatna (44.7), Sambalpur (44.4), Jharsuguda (43.5), Hirakud (43.1), Sundergarh (43), Malkangiri (42), Angul (41) and Phulbani (40).