Bhubaneswar, Apr 21: Soaring mercury level has made life miserable for people in Orissa as they grapple with the heat wave.
The temperature hovered around 40 degree Celsius in the state, with some parts like the western region of the state recording a temperature of 43 to 44 degree Celsius.
State’s Meteorological Department predicts that the heat wave will prevail across the state over next 24-hours due to the north-westerly wind blowing from Rajasthan.
According to reports, around 24 people have lost their lives due to the scorching heat.
After being injected the Hepatitis B vaccine at a health camp in Totapada village, 30 km from Bhubaneswar, at least 16 children fell ill and were taken to hospital.
The LN Mittal-controlled company, ArcelorMittal, is reportedly holding up its $20-25 billion proposed steel projects in Orissa and Jharkhand, largely because of the global economic crisis that has weakened demand for steel. As such, the world's biggest steelmaker's pending payment to the state government, for a 1,500-acre land earmarked for the proposed facility, will also be delayed. 
Kandhamal (Orissa), Apr 15 : Preparations are in full swing to hold general elections tomorrow in Orissa’s Kandhamal District.
Going by the instructions given by the Election Commissioner, the police Tuesday arrested BJP's Kandhamal candidate, Ashok Sahu, when he was addressing a public gathering in Phulbani. The arrest comes in reaction to Sahu's April 5 inflammatory speech at an election meeting at Raikia; an FIR was lodged against him on April 9. 
