Bhubaneswar: Nearly half of Odisha districts have turned into a cauldron as temperature at 14 places crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark today.

The maximum day temperature recorded over 40 in several districts, especially western part of the state.

Titlagarh continues to top the maximum temperature chart with highest day temperature of 45.8 degrees Celsius.

The other stations that recorded over 40 degree Celsius are: Chandbali (40.5), Cuttack (40), Bhubaneswar (40.2), Angul (42.7), Jharsuguda (43.6), Sambalpur (44.6), Sundargarh (42), Hirakud (44.1), Talcher (43.2), Bhawanipatna (42.8), Bolangir (45.5), Phulbani (41.8), Malkangiri (42), and Sonepur (44.2).

There seems to be no respite in sight for the next couple of days as office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) today issued a yellow warning for eight districts in the state. The districts – Bolangir, Sonepur, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Jharsuguda – were issued heat wave alert for the next three days and vulnerable people were advised to stay indoors.

The maximum day temperature likely to be above normal by 2-3 degree Celsius over the rest districts of Odisha during next 3-4 days, the SRC said in a release.