Orissa is in the grip of an intense heat wave with temperatures soaring to 47 degrees Celsius in some places, forcing people in the state capital and elsewhere to remain indoors to escape the hot sun.
 
The state government Friday directed district chiefs to keep adequate medicines and hospital beds ready in their areas. The meteorological office said the hot weather conditions would persist for two more days.

After 11 in the morning, roads in Bhubaneswar and neighbouring Cuttack city were almost deserted. Except for urgent travel, people preferred to stay inside their offices or homes.

Bhubaneswar, along with Cuttack, recorded an all time high this season at 42.5 degrees Thursday. The heat wave has taken a toll of at least 41 lives in the state.

In Titilagarh, which recorded 47 degrees Celsius Thursday, daily wage earners did not venture out of their homes.

"Last year, it was cooler but this year the heat is too much," said Surubali Mahakud. 

Mahakud, 35, who lives with her parents and brothers at Sindhekela village, about 30 km from the sub divisional head quarters of Titilagarh, has not ventured to the forest to collect firewood due to the heat.

Titilagarh and its nearby areas had recorded 50.1 degrees Celsius in June 2003.

In May 1998, the heat wave had claimed over 2,000 people in the state.