Jharsuguda: Western Odisha’s industrial hub has emerged the hottest city in the country on Wednesday, recording a maximum temperature of 44.6°C, the highest so far this summer. According to IMD, Jharsuguda topped the national temperature chart, with Wardha in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region following closely at 44.2°C.Records show that Jharsuguda had also led the list of country’s hottest cities last year, touching 46.2°C on April 22, 2025. The sudden spike in temperature left roads largely deserted during afternoon hours. “Jharsuguda has been reeling under extreme heat for the past few days. Today, the intensity was felt from early in the morning,” said Sanjay Panigrahi, a native of Badmal locality in the township.Factory workers said they had been taking extra precautions to cope with the conditions. “We carry wet towels to wrap around our heads while travelling to work in the morning and mix ORS with water to stay hydrated,” said Netra Tanty, who works at a private industrial unit.
