OTV Cares reaches out to homeless, distributes blankets as cold wave grips Bhubaneswar

As a biting cold wave continues to sweep across Odisha, the suffering of the homeless has intensified, particularly in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, where hundreds are forced to spend freezing nights on pavements and roadside corners. Amid the harsh winter conditions, OTV Cares, the CSR wing of Odisha Television Ltd, stepped in to provide much-needed relief to those braving the cold on the streets in Bhubaneswar. 

As part of the initiative, blankets were distributed to homeless people spending nights on footpaths, bus stands, railway stations and hospital premises across the city. With temperatures dropping sharply, survival itself has become a daily struggle for migrant labourers and urban poor who have come to Bhubaneswar in search of livelihood.

Teams from OTV Cares visited several vulnerable locations, including AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Capital Hospital, Baramunda Bus Stand, Bhubaneswar Railway Station and multiple major road junctions, to assess the ground situation and reach out to those in need. 

Blankets were provided to homeless individuals, roadside tea and paan vendors, and attendants of patients forced to stay outdoors at hospitals during the night.

Special attention was given to people taking shelter near hospitals, transport hubs and busy intersections, where exposure to extreme cold poses serious health risks. 

Through this outreach programme, OTV Cares extended support to nearly 100 beneficiaries, offering them protection against the severe winter chill.

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The initiative underscores OTV Cares’ continued commitment to community welfare, particularly during times of crisis, by standing alongside the most vulnerable and providing timely humanitarian assistance as winter tightens its grip on the capital.