SAMBALPUR: Heatwave has gripped western Orissa with the temperature refusing to relent. And the clear sky with no rain forecast for the coming days, there has been little relief for the denizens with water scarcity staring in their faces. The district has witnessed a sudden rise in maximum temperature that is hovering between 32 and 38 degree Celsius till now. The sun begins to pinch from eight in the morning and hot dry breeze continues well into the evening. Sambalpur recorded the highest temperature of 44.4 on Wednesday. There has been a constant rise in the temperature with 43 on Tuesday and 42.8 on Monday. Last week, the mercury soared to 42.7 on May 4, while it was 41 on May 3. However, a brief spell of rain saw a dip in the temperature on May 7 and May 6 at 37.4 and 38.2 respectively. The situation across the region is no better. While Sonepur recorded the highest temperature on Tuesday at 43.6, Jharsuguda was close behind with 43.1, followed by Sambalpur, Titlagarh and Balangir at 43. The temperature recorded in Bargarh was 42.9, while it was 41.5 at Bhawanipatna. The rising temperature has turned the region into a cauldron with mercury shooting up to 50 in the past. Although people believe that it is just the beginning and the temperature would rise further, water scarcity in many areas of Sambalpur has added to the woes. Although there are water tanks atop Budharaja Hill, water scarcity gripped Pradhanpada as the pressure was not enough to fill up the overhead water tanks. Similarly, although the water treatment plant is located in Baraipali, the pressure of water is also quite low in the area. In areas situated above the Mahanadi river near Remed along the NH-6, residents await tankers for drinking water.