Bhubaneswar: January 08:
On Wednesday, Bhubaneswar had its coldest January day in seven years. The minimum temperature dropped to 10.2 degrees Celsius, well below the city’s usual temperature.
Sources said the temperature was about 5 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average, underscoring the intensity of the current cold wave across Odisha.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) records show that the last coldest January night in the city was on January 1, 2019, when the temperature dropped to 9.5 degrees Celsius.
Bhubaneswar was not the only place affected by the cold. At least 23 locations across the state, including Cuttack, had minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.
Similipal in Mayurbhanj district reached the freezing point at zero degrees Celsius. G Udayagiri in Kandhamal was the coldest place in the state, with temperatures falling to 3 degrees Celsius. Frost was also seen in parts of Similipal National Park, showing how harsh the winter has been.
IMD officials said the sharp drop in night temperatures is due to dry and cold winds moving into the region. The weather agency expects the cold wave to last at least three more days and has issued warnings for several districts.
As Odisha prepares for more cold days, authorities have advised people to take precautions, especially children, the elderly, and anyone who is outside early in the morning or at night.
