After a brief period of relief, severe cold wave conditions have returned to Kandhamal district in Odisha, with G Udayagiri emerging as the coldest place in the entire state. The mercury plunged to a chilling 5.4 degrees Celsius, creating difficult conditions for residents across the region.
Temperature Plunge Across Kandhamal
The sharp drop in temperatures has affected multiple areas within the district. Popular hill stations Daringbadi and Phulbani both recorded 8.5°C, while other interior regions experienced similar cold conditions. The minimum temperature at G Udayagiri on Wednesday night was 7.4°C, showing a significant cooling trend overnight.
Other affected areas include Baliguda, Bramhanigaon, Kotagarh, Belaghara, Raikia, and Phiringia, where minimum temperatures dipped to between 7-8 degrees Celsius. The sudden return of winter conditions has caught many residents by surprise after the recent milder weather.
Fog and Daily Disruptions
Morning fog engulfed almost all areas of the district, creating visibility challenges and affecting vehicular traffic flow. Santosh Kumar Das, a resident of Baliguda, reported that "fog prevailed till 9-10 am," significantly impacting morning commutes and daily activities.
The cold conditions forced many residents to seek warmth through traditional means. People across the district were seen huddling around bonfires along roadsides to combat the biting cold. A watchman at G Udayagiri expressed the severity of the situation, stating, "It was very difficult to sit outside without a bonfire."
Administrative Response and Weather Patterns
Morning walker A K Sahu from Daringbadi emphasized the importance of these warming methods, adding that "sitting near the fire was the only respite in the cold." Despite the challenging conditions, the district administration confirmed there have been no casualties due to the cold wave.
To protect vulnerable populations, the district administration has opened temporary night shelters in different areas, particularly in towns, to accommodate homeless people during these freezing nights.
Weather experts attribute the temperature drop to cold winds blowing from the northwest and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, which have contributed to the dip in mercury levels across several places in Odisha, including Kandhamal district.
