Odishatv Bureau
(image) Bhubaneswar: Orissa continues to battle the bitter cold wave as mercury plunges to record lows at several parts across the state.

The temperature in the state capital broke the seven-year record with mercury tumbling to 10.4 degrees Celsius on Friday. The millennium city was also under the grip of intense cold wave with mercury hovering around 10.2 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, mercury dipped to minus 1.5 degrees at Daringbadi in Kandhamal.

The temperature was recorded below zero degree at several places in the state including Phulbani and Maurbhanj and western Orissa. Fog enveloped many parts of the state making the weather cloudy and chilly.

At several places in Sundargarh and Keonjhar light snowfall was reported besides Daringbadi freezing at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius. The temperature at Phulbani was recorded at 2.8 degrees Celsius and mercury at Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Mayurbhanj dropped below 6 degrees Celsius.

Normal life has been affected during night in northern and western part of Orissa districts as people chose to stay indoors due to the dipping mercury level.

“We are facing extreme cold conditions due to the drop in temperature. It is very difficult to sleep at night along the pedestrians,” a rickshaw puller said.

They could expect worse as Meteorological office forecast that the cold wave condition would prevail for the next 4-5 days.

“Temperatures at Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were recorded at 10.2 and 10.4 degrees Celsius respectively. The cold wave condition is expected to continue for the next 4-5 days,” Director Regional Meteorological office Sarat Sahu said.

Meanwhile, several deaths due to cold were reported across the state. However, there was no official confirmation in this regard.

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