Bhubaneswar, April 23 (IANS): The maximum temperature Wednesday crossed 42 degrees Celsius in three towns in Odisha as a heat wave continued in many parts of the state, officials said.

A temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius, the day's highest in the state, was recorded at Bhabanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi, about 420 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.

Similarly, with 42.2 degrees Celsius, Bhubaneswar was the second hottest place in the state followed by industrial town Angul which recorded a maximum temperature of 42.1 degrees Celsius, an official of the meteorological centre here told IANS.

The other places which recorded high temperatures included Titilagarh (42 degrees), Sambalpur (41.7 degrees), Bolangir and Talcher (41.5 degrees each) and Malkangiri (41 degrees), he said.

The heat wave conditions will prevail for the next two days although rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in one or two places, he said.