Cold wave grips Kandhamal as temperatures plummet

Berhampur: Kandhamal district is currently in the grip of a cold wave, with night temperatures dropping sharply in several areas. Residents have been huddling around bonfires to combat the chill.On Wednesday night, G Udayagiri recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the district at 5.2°C. "After a brief respite, cold weather conditions have returned, making it very difficult to sit outside without a fire," said a local of G Udayagiri.Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures in Phulbani and Daringbandi fell to 6.8°C and 8°C, respectively. The interior areas of the district, including Baliguda, Bramhanigaon, Kotagarh, Belaghara, Raikia, and Phiringia, saw temperatures dip to between 6°C and 7°C."Dense fog enveloped Phulbani, reducing visibility to just 50 meters. The foggy conditions persisted in many parts of the district until 10 am," said Santosh Kumar Das, a resident of Baliguda.In neighbouring Ganjam district, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur recorded night temperatures of 15.4°C and 16.5°C, respectively. Weather experts attribute the cold wave to dry, cold air blowing in from the northwest, along with clear skies.