In PHOTOS: India reels under KILLER heat wave

Parts of north and east India continued to be in the grip of the heat wave with maximum temperatures going above 44 degrees Celsius in some states.

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The worst affected is Odisha where the deadly heat has claimed 80 lives so far, according to a report in the Business Standard.

However, the official estimates put the toll at a much lower figure of 20.

At least, 17 places in the state have recorded maximum temperature between 40 to 46 degrees Celsius last week with Sambalpur becoming the hottest place as mercury soared to 46 degrees there, the report said.

"It seems the prevailing heat wave condition will stay for one or two days more and thereafter thunderstorms may occur in one or two places in the state," the Bhubaneswar branch of Indian Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

The temperature across Odisha has gone up due to hot winds from Haryana and Rajasthan, weather experts said.

Uttar Pradesh to continued to sizzle in the heat. In Lucknow, the maximum temperature was 43.3 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. Allahabad was hottest in the state at 46.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal.

However, the national capital Delhi got some respite from the heat with the maximum temperature dropping to 42 degrees Celsius from Friday's 44 degrees Celsius.

Dusty winds and rising mercury scorched Rajasthan as well with the average temperature staying above 40 degrees Celsius in most places.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh also simmered. Rohtak in Haryana recorded 42 degrees Celsius, two notches more than normal. Chandigarh saw a marginal dip in temperature recording a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius.

According to weather officials, high temperatures may result in increasing the humidity levels and in turn raise the discomfort levels.       

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