Bhubaneswar: A severe cold wave is currently sweeping through Odisha, with the mercury dropping below 10°C in more than 10 locations across the state.
This intense winter chill is being driven by dry north-westerly winds, which have caused temperatures to plummet particularly sharply in the interior and hilly districts.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar, Koraput has emerged as the coldest pocket, recording a minimum temperature as low as 4.8°C. Other regions like Semiliguda, Daringbadi, and Phulbani are also experiencing bone-chilling conditions with temperatures ranging between 6°C and 8°C.
Environmental impacts are becoming increasingly visible as the state grapples with these freezing conditions. In Kandhamal, reports have emerged of wildlife struggling to cope, with instances of fish and small birds found dead due to the sudden drop in temperature.
The agricultural sector is also under stress; the cold wave is affecting standing vegetable crops and banana plantations. Farmers have been advised to provide light irrigation during morning hours and cover recently planted crops with paper or plastic protectors to mitigate frost damage and moisture stress.
Travel and daily life remain significantly disrupted by a thick blanket of fog that has settled over much of the state. The IMD has issued a yellow warning for dense fog over the next five days, especially for districts like Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Koraput, and Nayagarh.
In some areas, visibility has dropped to below 50 meters, prompting administrative advisories for motorists to use fog lights and avoid high-speed travel during early morning and late evening hours. These conditions are expected to persist until at least the first week of January, as no immediate rise in temperature is forecast before the New Year