Intense cold wave condition continued to sweep across Odisha with Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal, today recording a low of 2.5 degrees Celsius.
"Cold wave condition would prevail over parts of interior Odisha during the next 48 hours," an IMD release said.
A report from Kandhamal said the lowest temperature of the season so far was recorded at 2 degrees Celsius yesterday and the maximum temperature of 24 degrees Celsius was recorded at noon today.
"The lowest temperature at Phulbani was 1.02 degrees Celsius on December 28, 2014", MeT sources said, adding Daringbadi, which is often dubbed as Odisha's Kashmir recorded 6 degrees Celsius.
Other areas which recorded minimum temperature below 10 degrees Celsius are Sundargarh 6 degrees Celsius, Hirakud 7.6 degrees Celsius, Koraput 7.8 degrees Celsius, Titilagarh 8.5 degrees Celsius, Keonjhargarh 8.8 degrees Celsius, Angul 9 degrees Celsius, Jharsuguda 9.2 degrees Celsius, Bhawanipatna 9.6 degrees Celsius, Sambalpur 9.7 degrees Celsius, Balasore and Baripada 9.9 degrees Celsius respectively.
The maximum temperature recorded across the state varied between 24.4 degrees Celsius and 30.4 degrees Celsius yesterday. While Baripada recorded lowest maximum temperature of 24.4 degrees Celsius, Malkangiri recorded the highest maximum temperature of 30.4 degrees Celsius.
Climate has caused hardship for the poor people living in forested areas.
"It is very difficult to step out from home before 10 AM and after 6 PM," said a resident of Phulbani.
If such situation continues for another week, vegetable cultivation would be affected adversely, said Krushna Chandra Kanhar and Subash Chandra Pradhan, both tribal cultivators.
"No single night shelter is operating this year. We had instructed BDOs and urban local body authorities to set up such shelter in their areas as per the demand," Rabindra Nath Mishra, the Emergency Officer of Kandhamal district said.
