On Friday, Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, experienced scorching heat with a maximum daytime temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius. This high temperature ranked Bhubaneswar as the second hottest city in the country, following Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh.
The Odisha state government has already rearranged the schedules for classes 1-10, moving them to the morning hours starting from April 2. This decision was made in response to the increasing temperature. The special relief commissioner has directed the municipal commissioners to open Jalachhatra in prominent locations where the public gathers and ensure all necessary precautions are taken to address the heatwave situation.
As a result of the prevailing dry air from the Northwest/West and intense solar radiation, numerous locations in the state are expected to experience maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C. Additionally, certain districts in Odisha may witness temperatures that are 3 to 5°C higher than the normal range until Saturday. Over the next two days, the maximum temperature is projected to increase by 2 to 3°C. Furthermore, there is a likelihood of a 3-4°C rise in minimum temperatures at various places over the next three days.
A recent research article in the journal Computational Urban Science revealed that the School of Earth Ocean and Climate Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar found that nearly 60% of the total warming experienced in Bhubaneswar was a result of swift urban development.
