A relentless cold wave has gripped Odisha, with Kandhamal and Nabarangpur districts recording bone-chilling temperatures between 4°C and 8°C. For over a month, a thick blanket of "blinding fog" has disrupted normal life, reducing visibility to near zero on major routes like Ambapanighati and the Bharatmala road.
In Nabarangpur, where the mercury plummeted to 7°C, the district administration has ordered school closures on Saturday mornings to protect students. The intense cold, peaking from sunset through dawn, has hit daily wage earners and commuters hardest. Frequent road accidents due to low visibility have also been reported.
The Meteorological Center warns that these conditions, characterized by heavy dew and persistent fog until 8 AM, will continue through next week. Residents are advised to stay indoors as the state braces for an even sharper dip in temperatures.