Dense fog blankets Odisha; traffic disrupted in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar as cold wave continues

Large parts of Odisha witnessed dense fog coupled with severe cold conditions on Thursday morning, disrupting normal life and significantly affecting road traffic across several districts, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Ground visuals showed poor visibility during early hours, which led to slow vehicular movement on highways and city roads, with commuters facing delays. Reports from multiple locations indicated that visibility dropped sharply due to thick fog, in some areas reducing sight distance to nearly 50 metres.

Twin Cities And Coastal Belt Affected

In Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, dense fog enveloped major roads and arterial routes, hampering the movement of private vehicles, buses, and two-wheelers. Traffic flow remained slow for several hours in the morning as commuters navigated through low-visibility conditions.

Similar foggy conditions were reported from Puri, where mist-covered roads affected early-day travel for locals and visitors.

Visuals from the twin cities showed stretches of roads barely visible, with traffic personnel and drivers exercising extra caution to avoid accidents. The fog also affected the regular movement of passenger buses, including state-run Ama buses, from the Cuttack Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Terminal in Khannagar.

Fog Spreads To Western And Southern Districts

Apart from the coastal and central regions, dense fog was also reported from several interior and tribal-dominated districts. Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Koraput witnessed thick fog across highways and internal roads, affecting routine transportation.

In Kandhamal district headquarters, Phulbani, and parts of Koraput, early morning visuals showed roads shrouded in mist, with vehicles moving slowly due to limited visibility. Local commuters reported difficulty in identifying road edges and oncoming traffic during the early hours.

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Cold Wave Tightens Grip Across The State

The foggy conditions coincided with an ongoing cold wave across Odisha. Several parts of the state continued to experience biting cold, with people seen braving harsh weather conditions during early morning hours. The persistent chill has been felt across both urban centres and rural areas, adding to weather-related discomfort.

According to weather officials, there is no immediate relief in sight. Minimum temperatures across Odisha are expected to remain largely unchanged over the next week. The prevailing conditions are likely to sustain cold nights and foggy mornings, particularly in inland and forested regions.