Bhubaneswar, May 29 (IANS): The intense heat wave continued unabated in Odisha on Friday with Bhabanipatna town recording a maximum temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here said.

The state government put the number of deaths in the heat wave this season at 17.

Bhabanipatna town in Kalahandi district recorded the maximum temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius, the department said in a bulletin, adding that Bolangir and Titlagarh registered 45 degrees Celsius.

Bhubaneswar, the capital city, recorded 39.7 degrees Celsius, it added.

The special relief commissioner said 17 people have died of sunstroke in the state so far this season.

However, there is some good news for the people, who are reeling under the blistering heat wave since the last few weeks.

IMD Bhubaneswar director Sarat Chandra Sahu said the mercury will come down in the coming days as pre-monsoon rain arrives between June 2-4.

Monsoon will hit the state in the second week of June, Sahu added.