Mercury dipped below 10 degree Celsius in 19 places in Odisha

Biting cold persisted across Odisha with the mercury dipping below 10 degree Celsius in at least 19 places on Wednesday.

Intense cold conditions are likely to grip the state for at least next four days under the influence of dry and cold wind blowing from northern Himalayan range, the Meteorological Centre here said.

Phulbani became the coldest place in the state recording 4.5 degree Celsius, while the mercury stood at 5 degree Celsius in the tourist destination of Daringibadi, also in Kandhamal district, it said.

As the entire state reeled under biting cold, the mercury slipped below 8 degrees Celsius in at least 8 places and below 10 degrees Celsius in at least 19 locations in the state, it said.

The mercury stood at 6.6 degrees Celsius in Sonepur, while it was 7.5 degree in Bhawanipatna, 7.6 degree in Angul, 8 degrees in Titlagarh, Sundargarh and Keonjhar, 8.2 degree in Koraput, 8.4 degree in Sambalpur, 9.3 degree in Talcher and Balasore, 9.4 degree in Baripada, 9.5 degree in Hirakud and 10 degree in Malkangiri, it said.

The minimum temperature recorded in state capital Bhubaneswar was 9.8 degrees Celsius, while neighbouring Cuttack city also shivered at 10 degrees Celsius, it said.

The MeT said there will be little respite from the biting cold in next few days.

The night temperature is likely to fall below normal by three to four degrees Celsius during the next three days in the state, it said.