With six more deaths reported, the death toll due to suspected sunstroke mounted to 59 in Orissa today even as the state continued to sizzle under searing heat.
The reports of fresh casualties came from Dhenkanal, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Ganjam districts, official said.
Talcher coal belt recorded the maximum temperature of 46.2 degree Celsius. Elsewhere also, mercury hovered around 45 degree Celsius forcing people to remain outdoors.
Sambalpur recorded a maximum temperature of 45.6 deg C followed by Baripada at 45.3 deg C, Jharsuguda 45.2 deg C and 45 deg C in Titlagarh, the officials said.
In Bhubhaneswar, the maximum temperature dropped to 39.9 deg C from yesterday's 42.4 deg C, while in Cuttack the mercury level fell to 39 deg C from 43.3 deg C, they said.
The met office forecast continuance of heatwave condition on Thursday.