Slight rise in temperature in Odisha

In a respite from the biting cold, the weather warmed up in Odisha Thursday with slight rise in temperature, but the meteorological centre here warned of harsher days ahead.

Phulbani, the district headquarters town of Kandhamal, turned out to be the coldest place in the state recording 8.2 degree Celsius, showing a rise from 6 degree Celsius measured on Wednesday, the MeT centre said.

The minimum temperature in the tourist destination of Daringibadi, also in Kandhamal district, went up from Wednesday's 5.5 degree Celsius to 10 degree on Thursday.

The mercury stood at 9.5 degree Celsius in Sundargarh, 9.6 degree in Angul and 10 degree Celsius in Titlagarh and Balasore, it said.

The minimum temperature in state capital Bhubaneswar rose to 13.4 degree Celsius as against 12.4 degree Celsius recorded on Wednesday, while in neighbouring Cuttack it stood at 12.2 degree Celsius.

Though the rise in temperature gave a major relief to the people from intense cold, the weatherman said the mercury will fall considerably in next 2-3 days.

Director of the Meteorological Centre here, H R Biswas said the minimum temperature is likely to drop by 3 to 4 degree Celsius in most parts of the state after two days and cold conditions would prevail.