Bhubaneswar, June 1 (IANS): Temperatures across Odisha went down on Monday with many places recording below 40 degrees Celsius, even as the state government confirmed the death of 26 people due to sunstroke.

The India Metrological Department (IMD) office said state capital Bhubaneswar recorded the highest temperature of 40.7 degrees, followed by Malkangiri at 40 degrees.

IMD Bhubaneswar director Sarat Chandra Sahu said temperatures will come down in the coming days which would give the much needed respite to people.

He said the monsoon was likely to hit the state in the second week of June.

The IMD also expects rain or thundershowers in the next two days in some parts of the state.

The special relief commissioner in a statement confirmed that 26 people have died of sunstroke. He said they have also received reports of 131 more deaths but they were yet to be confirmed.

The highest number of deaths were reported from Ganjam (7) and Kendrapada (5).