Odisha is grappling with an unrelenting heatwave, with 18 cities in the state recording temperatures above 41 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The coal mining region of Talcher reported the highest temperature at 43.2°C, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official.

“43.2 degrees Celsius has been recorded in Talcher. In 18 cities, more than 41 degrees Celsius has been recorded,” IMD Director Manorama Mohanty told ANI.

“In Bhubaneswar, the record stands at 41.7 degrees Celsius; in Cuttack, 41.5 degrees Celsius is recorded. In the coastal station, humidity varies from 40% to 80%. For the coming five days, we have issued a heat wave condition warning,” she added.

In response to the forecast, the Odisha government has announced that all schools in the state will be closed from April 18 to 20.

The IMD predicts that temperatures in many parts of the state are expected to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, and some areas may even see temperatures exceeding 45°C.

According to the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Centre, heatwave conditions prevailed in several districts, including Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Angul, and Boudh.

Hot and humid weather conditions were also reported in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

(Inputs from ANI)