Odisha sizzled on Tuesday as at least 29 places recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with Baripada and Jharsuguda boiling at 44.2 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The intense heat has prompted the government to shut all schools and anganwadi centres on 19 and 20 April, an order stated.
Morning classes were being held in the schools from 7 am to 11 am.
Bolangir and Boudh recorded 43.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Nuapada (43.6), Titlagarh and Sonepur (43.2), Angul (43.1) and Sundargarh and Sambalpur at 43 degrees Celsius.
State capital Bhubaneswar and nearby Cuttack recorded 42.7 and 42.5 degrees Celsius respectively.
The IMD, in its bulletin, said there will be no major change in temperature in the next two-three days.