Cold wave conditions continued to sweep across Odisha on Monday, with minimum temperatures plunging below 10 degree Celsius mark in at least 13 places.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the biting cold has severely disrupted normal life, particularly in the southern and western districts.
The IMD has issued warning for five days, stating that minimum temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged across the state till the New Year
Most places in the coastal region recorded minimum temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius while several southern and western districts remained under the grip of cold wave conditions.
Kandhamal district remains the epicenter of the cold spell, a trend that has persisted for the last fortnight. G Udaygiri recorded the state’s lowest temperature at a bone-chilling 3.6 degree Celsius.
Other areas in the region also saw significant drops in the temperature with Similiguda in Koraput district recording 5.2 degree Celsius followed by Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal, reporting 5.5 degree Celsius and the tourist spot of Daringbadi logging 6 degree Celsius.
Other places recording temperature below 10 degree Celsius included Koraput (6.4), Jharsuguda (6.5°C), Rourkela (7.0°C), and Angul (8.0°C), Kirei (8.7), Bhawanipatna (9), Sonepur and Keonjhar (9.8 each).
Meanwhile, the IMD also forecast dense fog during morning hours in several districts, including Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nayagarh.
However, the IMD said there could be a slight rise of 2-3 degree Celsius in minimum temperatures from January 1 onwards, depending on changes in wind patterns and atmospheric circulation.
