Odisha reels under cold wave conditions, Phulbani coldest

Most parts of Odisha today reeled under intense cold wave conditions as the mercury dropped to 5 degrees Celsius at Phulbani in Kandhamal district, making it the coldest place in the state and disrupting normal life.
While Phulbani recorded 5 degrees Celsius, 1 degrees up from yesterday's 4 degrees, minimum temperature in the picturesque Daringibadi in Kandhamal district stood at 7 degrees Celsius, the local Meteorological centre said.
Biting cold swept most parts of the state as the minimum temperature fell to 10 degrees Celsius and below in at least 11 places, the MeT officials said, adding that cold wave conditions are likely to continue in Odisha for the next two days.

While the minimum temperature plummeted to 6.5 degrees Celsius at Sundargarh, it was 7 degrees at Bhawanipatna, 7.8 degrees at Jharsuguda, 7.9 degrees Celsius at Sambalpur and Hirakud, 8 degrees Celsius at Angul, 9 degrees Celsius at Koraput, 9.5 degree Celsius Keonjhargarh and 10 degrees Celsius at Balangir, the Met office said.
The state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded a minimum of 12.6 degrees Celsius, it said.
Apart from Phulbani town and Daringibadi in Kandhamal, the cold wave conditions swept elsewhere in the district disrupting normal life in G Udayagiri, Balliguda, Kotagarh and Tumudibandha blocks.
Reports of fish and birds being found dead due to intense cold were received from different parts, particularly from the high-altitude areas of the region.