Dense fog severely disrupted vehicular movement across several routes in the Mohana area of Odisha’s Gajapati district on Sunday, bringing traffic to a near standstill. A slight temperature rise was recorded due to changing weather conditions; however, widespread fog continued to blanket multiple locations, sharply reducing visibility.

Reports indicated that visibility in several stretches dropped to below 50 metres, causing significant traffic disruption. Ambulances, tourist buses, and other vehicles were forced to halt along the roadside as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents. The thick fog cover persisted through the morning, affecting both local commuters and long-distance travellers.

Weather Shift and Ongoing Winter Chill

Despite a slight rise in temperature providing some relief from the bitter cold, winter conditions continued in Mohana. The thick blanket of fog affected road visibility and slowed vehicular movement, resulting in several delays.

Travellers’ Experiences

Local residents and travellers described the challenges faced due to poor visibility. A local commuter said, “I was on my way back from Jirang, but I had to travel very slowly due to the fog and could not continue further.”

A tourist travelling through the region expressed similar concerns and said, “The environment is good, and Taptapani was one of the main attractions. The fog is dense, the weather is very chilly, and we had to travel very slowly as visibility is very low.”

Transport Affected

Motorists opted to stop at safer locations until visibility improved, with several vehicles reportedly stranded on the roadside. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances, were also seen waiting due to unsafe driving conditions.

Also Read: Cyclone likely to form over Bay of Bengal as low pressure to intensify into depression by Nov 24

Authorities advised travellers to exercise caution while driving through fog-affected stretches. The situation was expected to improve gradually with rising daytime temperatures. Further updates will depend on the evolving weather conditions.