Cold Wave Grips Odisha as Several Areas Record Single-Digit Temperatures

Bhubaneswar: Odisha continued to reel under an intense cold wave on Sunday, with several parts of the state recording single-digit minimum temperatures, triggering biting cold conditions, particularly in western and southern districts.

Hill towns Daringbadi and Phulbani emerged as the coldest places in the state, with the mercury plunging to 6 degrees Celsius in both locations. Jharsuguda, Koraput and Rourkela followed closely, each recording a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius. Nabarangpur registered 8.5 degrees Celsius, while Angul, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Bhawanipatna recorded temperatures ranging between 9 and 9.5 degrees Celsius.

Several other districts, including Bolangir, Boudh, Sonepur and Baripada, experienced chilly nights with minimum temperatures hovering between 10 and 11 degrees Celsius.

In the coastal belt, temperatures were relatively higher. Bhubaneswar recorded a minimum of 13.1 degrees Celsius, while Cuttack stood at 11.8 degrees Celsius. Puri recorded 16.4 degrees Celsius, and Gopalpur and Chhatrapur reported 15.5 and 15.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a dense fog alert for parts of the state. According to the weather agency, dense fog is very likely during early morning hours at isolated places in Sundargarh, Dhenkanal and Nayagarh districts on Monday, which may affect road visibility.

Residents said the sudden dip in temperature has disrupted daily routines. “It is extremely cold in the early morning. People are lighting fires to keep themselves warm,” said a resident of Phulbani. Another resident from Dhenkanal said dense fog and cold winds have made morning travel difficult, particularly for daily wage workers and students.

The IMD has advised people to take necessary precautions against cold and fog, especially during early morning and night hours. Drivers have also been urged to remain cautious due to poor visibility in fog-prone areas.

According to official data, minimum temperatures recorded across the state on Sunday included Phulbani and Daringbadi (6°C), Jharsuguda, Koraput and Rourkela (7°C), Nabarangpur (8.5°C), Angul (9°C), Sundargarh (9.2°C), Keonjhar (9.4°C), Bhawanipatna (9.5°C), and several other locations ranging between 10°C and 16.4°C.