Daringbadi: The ‘Kashmir of Orissa’ experienced its first snowfall of the season Wednesday with the mercury falling to 3.05 degree Celsius, the lowest temperature of the season in Kandhamal district.
The roofs of houses and paddy fields were covered with a thick layer of snow early Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the people shivered in the intense cold wave. The temperature at district headquarters Phulbani was four degree Celsius, reports said.
Normal life was hit as residents shivered in the extreme cold. It is expected that the chill might last for a few more days. The homeless had a tough time in the cold weather as the administration did not bother to open temporary shelters.
Tourists who were visiting Daringbadi complained that no hotel facilities were available. “I had to shiver outside in the cold with my family throughout the night as no hotel was available,” said tourist Mohit Kumar Chakraborty from West Bengal.
Tourists visiting the place were ecstatic at seeing the snow. People wearing thick winter garments came out of their homes in the morning to see the snow.
The temperature had been plunging sharply in villages like Simanbadi, Sraniketa, Greenbadi, Sirkabarj, Danekbadi, Partamaha, Siangbali, Bhramarbadi, Kirkuti and others. Many people were seen huddling around bonfires at nights and early morning to beat the cold. So far no lives have been lost to the intense cold, but birds were found dead in some areas.
Locals demanded free distribution of blankets and warm clothes for the poor and homeless. They also called for the construction of temporary shelters in Daringbadi. PNN
