Bhubaneswar: While IMD Bhubaneswar, warning of the prevalence of cold wave conditions in 11 districts, the Odisha Government Sunday put all the District Magistrates on alert asking them to be in readiness to face the calamity.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in a letter to all the district collectors and the commissioners of municipal corporations said that there is likelihood of cold related illness among the people which may get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold. Therefore, the people should be advised to stay indoors during the night and avoid exposure to cold.
Movement during night especially in two-wheelers or in open cars must be avoided and necessary safety measures are taken to be taken while using electrical and gas heating devices or using fire to beat the cold, the SRC suggested in the letter.
As advised earlier, the SRC told the District Collectors they are required to ensure that school buildings, community buildings and other available buildings are opened for use as shelter during the night by the homeless and needy people.
The SRC also told the DMs that necessary public awareness campaigns may also be made on the do’s and don’ts to protect the people and livestock from cold weather.
The weather office in its bulletin said that the cold wave condition very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sonepur, Boudh and Angul during next 24 hours.
It also warned the government of the possible impacts of the cold wave situation and suggested some actions to be taken to protect people and their properties. It suggested people to stay indoor and avoid movement during night and early morning to avoid prolonged exposure to cold.
The weather office also suggested to keep livestock in shaded/ indoor area.
It said dry weather prevailed over the districts of Odisha and shallow to moderate fog has occurred at one or two places over the districts of Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Ganjam.
“The minimum temperatures observed marked fall at a few places over the districts of Interior Odisha, appreciable fall at a few places over the districts of Interior Odisha, at one or two places over the districts of Coastal Odisha and no large change at elsewhere over the districts of Odisha,” it said.
However, the minimum temperature was markedly below normal at one or two places over the districts of Interior Odisha, appreciably below normal at many places over the districts of Interior Odisha, below normal at many places over the districts of Coastal Odisha, above normal at one or two places over the districts of Coastal Odisha and normal at elsewhere over the districts of Odisha, it said.
The highest maximum temperature of 33.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Malkangiri and the lowest minimum temperature of 7.8 degree Celsius was recorded at Jharsuguda in the plains of Odisha, it said.