With no sign of respite from the ongoing heat wave in Odisha, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the energy department not to go for power cuts from 10 am till 5 pm.
Naveen’s direction came during a review meeting on facilities available at hospitals to attend sunstroke patients, drinking water crisis, facilities available for treatment of birds and animals and power cut problem.
The CM asked officials to immediately provide tankers to areas reporting drinking water crisis. He also directed the department to immediately repair defunct tube wells. He also stressed on taking adequate steps to make people aware about the facilities available at hospitals to beat the heat.
On Monday, the mercury in at least five places in the state hovered at 44 degree Celsius or above in western and interior Odisha. Balangir recorded the day’s highest of 44.6 degree Celsius followed by Titlagarh (44.5 degree Celsius), Sambalpur, Sundergarh and Hirakud (all 44 degree Celsius). Jharsuguda and Bhawanipatna recorded 43.7 degree Celsius and 43.5 degree Celsius respectively. Besides, there were at least six more places in the state where mercury touched 40 degree Celsius or above. The day temperature in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack stood at 40.4 degree Celsius and 38 degree Celsius respectively.
The weather officials on Monday forecast that the heat wave condition would continue to prevail over some parts of interior Odisha for at least two more days.
Though the sudden spurt in heat wave over the past few days is causing physical discomfort to many, it has proved to be a boon for those involved summer-related business activities. Ice factories are working to capacity as a large number of ice-sellers have put up their platforms in every nook and corner of the town.
Go to any market of the town and you will find an array of fans displayed outside shops. Decked up shops selling air-coolers, air-conditioners and refrigerators beckon prospective buyers with various bargain offers.
The sale of ‘matkas’ and ‘surahis’, which are the best natural water coolers, is also brisk as there are thousands of poor men who cannot afford the luxury of a refrigerator.
