Bhubaneshwar, Apr 21: The heat wave is on in Orissa, with the maximum temperature hovering around the 42° Celsius mark in most parts of the State. The heat wave has so far claimed 10 lives in the state.

In Bhubaneswar, people are finding it hard to venture out of their homes, while the poor are attempting to find respite under the shade of a trees.

Others were found to be heading towards roadside stalls to savour cool ice candies and watermelons. Watermelons are particularly in great demand.

"The weather has broken all records this year. It's difficult to survive in such hot and humid weather. The people who have to go out for work have no option but to bear the brunt of this heat," said Rajesh Tripathy, a resident.

Meteorological Department officials attributed the sharp rise in temperatures to the dry hot winds coming in from northwestern India.

"The temperature is more than 40 degrees Celsius at almost all the station like Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Hirakud and coastal stations mainly Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack," said S. C Sahoo, Director, Meteorological Department.

Sahoo said temperatures are likely to soar further as wind patterns from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are such that there is little chance of any rain. The missing sea breeze too is adding to the heat wave, he added. (ANI)