It is now raining fireballs from the sky in Odisha. The entire eastern India state is currently reeling under a severe heat wave condition which has thrown normal life out of gear. It has become impossible for the citizens to step out of their homes after 10’o clock in the morning. People have already been alerted about possible sunstrokes. Authorities have also taken steps from their side to handle the situation.

        In several cities and towns across the state, the maximum daytime temperature hovers above 45 degree celsius. What has become more painful for the people is non-reduction in the night time temperature. ‘’This year, the night time temperature remains unusually high which has become an additional woe for the citizens. This is a new phenomenon’’, said a resident of state’s capital city, Bhubaneswar which had also been affected by the current spell of heat wave.

       Different people have come out with separate opinions so far as the reasons behind the unusual weather condition is concerned. A section of the experts blame Super El Nino for the unexpected heat wave. According to them, there is a bright chance that a Super El Nino will hit India this year and the impact of that is already being felt across the country. Apart from Odisha, several other Indian states as well as parts of neighbouring countries in the south Asian region are also experiencing similar heat wave conditions.

      Some Indian states are occasionally receiving rainfall under the impact of nor’westers popularly known as Kala Baisakhi. But this has not been able to reduce the heat wave related pain of the people.

      There are another section of experts who hold blind and unplanned urbanisation responsible for the current spell of heat wave. According them, massive cutting of trees and destruction of forests in the name of infrastructure development led to imbalances in the entire eco system which ultimately resulted in the disastrous weather conditions like the present heat wave.

      However, there are a few veterans who have a different take on the matter. According to them, the weather conditions like this are nothing but signs and signatures of bad times. ‘’This is the wrath of the God. Sometimes the almighty orders the weather to go extreme to teach the human beings a lesson for their sins. It is up to them{the people} if they will recognise these signals or not’’, said a Bhubaneswar resident, a veteran of 80 summers.

         In a state like Odisha, every natural disaster provides an excellent opportunity for rumour mongers to go berserk. And the current heat wave is no exception.’’ Recently, one fine morning my maid servant asked me ‘I heard from somebody that entire Odisha would soon be turning into a desert. Is it a fact? Her query confirmed that disaster time rumour mongering has touched the roof’’ said a Bhubaneswar basedhome maker.

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