Bhubaneswar/Daringbadi: Intense cold swept across Odisha with the mercury plummeting to 5.5 degree Celsius in the tourist destination Daringibadi, making it the coldest place in the state Wednesday.
Daringibadi was followed by Phulbani, also in Kandhamal district, which recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degree Celsius, the Meteorological Centre here said, adding the intense cold wave will continue till January 2.
The temperature dipped below 10 degree Celsius in at least nine places in the state.
While Angul recorded a minimum temperature of 8.6 degree Celsius, the mercury stood at 9 degree in Sundargarh, 9.1 degree in Keonjhar, 9.4 degree in Jharsuguda, 9.8 degree in Sonepur, 9.9 degree in Sambalpur and 10 degree in Balasore, it said.
The mercury stood at 12.4 degree Celsius in Bhubaneswar, while Cuttack recorded a minimum temperature of 11.8 degree Celsius, it said.
In view of the cold wave conditions sweeping the state, the Odisha government has asked District Collectors to take steps to provide night accommodation to the homeless inside schools and public buildings, an official said.
The civic body authorities have also been asked to provide shelter to the tourists in night shelter homes.
Health department, fisheries and animal resources development departments have been asked to take care of the elderly and the livestock, he added.
There is a possibility of scattered rainfall in some parts of interior Odisha December 27 and coastal and south Odisha December 28 due to the formation of a trough over the state. This can intensify the cold wave.
The cold wave hit Keonjhar district and two persons reportedly died due to the chilly weather.
PNN
