Women cover their faces to avoid direct contact with sun on a hot day. (File Photo: IANS)
Bhubaneswar, April 13 (IANS) Most parts of Odisha continued to reel under a severe heat wave on Wednesday, while there was a slight drop in the maximum temperature in the state capital, officials said.
As many as 18 places recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Titlagarh recorded the highest temperature in the state for the second consecutive day at 45 degrees as against 44.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department's Bhubaneswar office said.
Sonepur city recorded the second highest temperature of 44.8 degrees, followed by the industrial town of Talcher at 43.6 degrees.
After breaking the all-time record in the month of April two days ago, the temperature in state capital Bhubaneswar came down slightly as it recorded 42.2 degrees Celsius.
However, there was no respite from the scorching sun and the roads wore a deserted look throughout the day.
IMD Bhubaneswar director Sarat Chandra Sahu said temperatures would continue to rise for another week.
