Bhubaneswar, March 29 -- Odisha reeled under intense heat with mercury crossing 39 degrees Celsius in the state by 2:30 PM on Friday. Jharsuguda recorded the highest temperature by 2:30PM at 39.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Chandabali (38.4), Rourkela (37.5), Bhubaneswar (37.4), Keonjhar (37.4), Balasore (35).

The Bhubaneswar centre of the IMD, in a release, said, "Due to prevailing dry conditions over major parts the state and high solar insolation, further rise inmaximum temperature (Day Temperature) is likely by 2 degrees Celsius at a few places over some parts of interior Odisha during the next 48 Hours."

Day temperature is likely to be between 38 to 40degC at many places over the districts in interior parts and between 36 to 38deg...