Bhubaneswar, April 23 -- Western Odisha's industrial heartland officially became the hottest location in India on Wednesday, as Jharsuguda recorded a searing maximum temperature of 44.6 degree Celcius. 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this figure represents the highest temperature documented across the country so far this summer, narrowly surpassing Wardha in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, which followed at 44.2 degree Celcius.

The current heatwave mirrors a similar trend from the previous year, when Jharsuguda topped the national charts at 46.2 degree Celcius on 22 April 2025. This recurring thermal intensity has fundamentally altered daily life in the district, with residents reporting that commuting becom...