A severe cold wave has tightened its grip across the state, with four cities recording temperatures below 10 °C on Thursday. Semiliguda was the coldest at 7.1 °C, followed by G Udaygiri (7.4 °C), Daringbadi (7.5 °C) and Phulbani (8.5 °C). Overall, nine cities logged lows under 12 °C.
Temperatures begin to bite sharply after 5 p.m., with daytime highs averaging 15 °C, prompting markets to empty by 7 p.m. as residents light bonfires. Dense fog was reported in Kalahandi and Sundargarh districts.
The Meteorological Centre predicts a further dip in temperatures over the next three days.