Bhubaneswar, March 29 -- Hotter days are ahead for Odisha capital as maximum temperature in the city may touch 40 degree Celsius on April 2, 3 and 4, the Regional Meteorological Centre here forecasted today.

It also predicted that mercury is likely to soar significantly across the state.

"Due to prevailing dry conditions over major parts of the state and high solar insolation, further rise in maximum temperature (day temperature) likely by 2degC at a few places over some parts of interior Odisha during the next 48 hours and no large change thereafter over the state. Consequently, maximum temperature (day temperature) is likely to be between 38 to 40degC at many places over the districts of interior parts and between 36 to 38degC over th...