Following forecast of severe cold wave conditions which will continue for the next two days in Odisha, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) on Saturday issued an advisory for the Collectors of all districts and municipal commissioners across the State.
The SRC order stated that there is increased likelihood of cold related illnesses among people, which may get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold, while livestock may also be affected due to prolong exposure to cold.
The SRC advised people residing in the districts, where ‘Yellow’ warning has been issued, and also in other areas, where intense cold is felt, to stay indoors during night and avoid exposure to cold.
Movement during night especially on two wheelers or in open cars must be avoided, the SRC said.
Moreover, the SRC urged the people to follow necessary the safety measures while using electrical and gas heating devices or fire to avoid cold.
“All Collectors are requested to ensure that school buildings, community buildings and other available buildings are opened for use as shelter during night by homeless and needy people,” the advisory read.
“A report indicating the number of such buildings used as night shelters and number people sheltered therein be sent to the office of SRC on daily basis till the cold wave situation is over. Necessary public awareness campaign may also be made on do's and don’ts to protect the people and livestock from cold wave both in rural and urban area,” the advisory stated.
Notably, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its bulletin has stated that the cold wave condition is very likely to prevail over some districts of interior Odisha during next two days. Accordingly, the IMD has issued Yellow warning for 13 districts.
The minimum temperatures will be 3-5 degrees Celsius below normal at many places during the next two days, the weather office said.