Heat wave death toll rises to three in Orissa

The death toll in the heat wave sweeping across Orissa has risen to three and authorities are investigating 38 more deaths occurred this month to find out if they were due to sunstroke, an official said today.

"Three people died of sunstroke - one each in the districts of Jajpur, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur. They died on April 24, April 20 and April 1 respectively," said Durgesh Nandini Sahu, officer on special duty in the state revenue control room.

"In the past month, we have received claims of about 55 deaths due to the heat wave. We have so far received information about 17 of them. While three died of sunstroke, the 14 others died of other causes," she said.

Orissa is reeling under a severe heat wave with some area witnessing temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius.

While Baripada town recorded 45.6 degrees Celsius Friday, the industrial town of Talcher recorded 45 degrees Celsius on Monday.