Sundergarh is a town in Sundergarh district of the Indian state of Odisha. As of 2011 census, the municipality had a population of 45,036. Sundargarh is recognized as an industrial district in Odisha. Steel, fertilizer, cement, ferrovanadium, machine-building, glass, china-clay plants and factories, and spinning mills are some of the major industries of this district. Sundargarh occupies a prominent position in the mineral map of Odisha and is rich in iron ore, limestone, and manganese. Geography Sundargarh is located at . It has an average elevation of 243 metres (801 feet). The Ib river flows along in the north. Climate The climate of this district is characterized by extremely hot summers and cool winters. The climate is hot and moist sub-humid. The normal rainfall of the district is approximately 1230 mm, but there is a deviation in receipt of rainfall pattern which is influencing crop production. History Sundargarh was the capital of the princely State of Gangpur till 1948 and became the district headquarters of Sundargarh district from 1948. It is understood that, in ancient times, Sundargarh was under the rulers of different dynasties. However, divergent views are available regarding the origin of the ruling family. The present royal family of Gangpur belongs to the Sekhar dynasty. This ex-state was under the suzerainty of Sambalpur, known as Hirakhand Desh, and later formed part of the dominion of the Maratha Rajas of Nagpur. This was ceded to the British Government in 1803 by the Maratha Chief Raghuji Bhonsla of Nagpur under the treaty of Deogaon (near Rourkela). This was restored to him by a special engagement in 1806. This was finally ceded in 1826. In 1905, this princely state along with Bonai was transferred from the control of the commissioner of Chhotanagpur to that of the Odisha Division and a separate political agent was appointed. Demographics India census, the population of the town was 45,036. The male population was 22,754 and the female population was 22,282. Transport Sundargarh is connected to all major towns in Odisha by road. It is connected to Rourkela and Sambalpur by State Highway 10. The nearest railway station is Jharsuguda railway station. The nearest airport is Jharsuguda Airport which is 27 kilometers from the town. Politics The current MLA from Sundargarh Assembly Constituency is Kusum Tete of BJP, who won the seat in by-elections in 2006 after Sushama Patel who won the seat by election due