Killer summer
the north-westerly heat wave, that originated in Rajasthan, has claimed 93 lives in Orissa this year. The state government is verifying another 300 deaths that could have occurred due to the same reason. The heat wave did little damage in the state initially. But its effect aggravated as the southwest monsoon took an extra fortnight to reach Orissa's south coast. Many people reeled under sunstrokes; some collapsed on the streets and vomited blood.
Official figures say 2,338 people have died of sunstroke in Orissa between 1998 and 2004. While 2,042 deaths occurred in 1998, subsequent years have claimed, respectively, 91 people, 29, 25, 41, 67 and 43 in 2004. "This year, the northwesterly wind traveled a long distance over the landmass. It was consistently fed by the heat generated out of the soil and no atmospheric system intercepted it. Since Orissa is situated at the extreme point of wind passage, it bore the maximum brunt,' explains S C Sahu, director, Bhubaneswar Meteorological office.
The day temperature in the industrial town of Talcher touched an unprecedented 50