It's still February, but the mercury has touched 40.4ºC in Orissa's capital Bhubaneswar. Wednesday's temperature was the highest in the last 45 years. There was marginal relief on Thursday when the mercury came down to 38.5ºC.

Unusual temperatures were recorded across the state where the average is hovering around 40ºC. On Thursday it was 38.6ºC in Cuttack, 37.4ºC in Titlagarh and 37ºC in Jharsuguda. Director of the Indian Meteorological Department in Bhubaneswar, Lala Debendra Prasad Ray blamed "clear sky with low wind flow from the sea and dry weather" for the temperature. He said it indicated either a hot summer or heavy rainfall between March and May. "The heat wave is mainly due to the north-westerly dry wind, lack of south-easterly wind and clear sky," he said.

To prevent a repeat of the 2,000 sunstroke deaths in 1998, the state has directed district collectors to take preventive measures. Schools were asked to conduct all exams between 6.30 to 10.30 am by end of April.

Subhashish Mohanty/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication