Odisha’s Sonepur Experiences A Never Before Winter

Bhubaneswar: Sonepur town along with the whole district is in the grip of severe cold wave this year. Compared to other years, this year the temperature has gone down by around 10 degrees, forcing people to stay indoors even during the day.

Those out on the streets are wearing layers of woollen. Subarnapur district is facing a spate of cold winds blowing all through the morning, making it bone chilling.

This time winter came late in the region but has hit normal life in a big way. There is a thick cover of fog in most parts till late in the morning, making commuting difficult. People are lighting up bonfires in the evenings to keep themselves warm. According to the met department, the biting cold will only increase in the coming days.

The situation is no different in Nabarangapur district. For the first time, the temperature was recorded at 8 degrees Celsius here. Most places in the district are shrouded in a thick blanket of fog through the greater part of the day. Visibility is so low that even walking properly on the road is getting difficult. People have never faced such a prolonged spell of severe cold in the region.

“Let alone night, we need bonfires even during the day and are finding it tough to step out of our homes,” said a local resident Heramba Sahu.

Another resident, Suchismita Padhi said, “We have never ever faced this kind of cold winter in this area.”

Meanwhile, Daringbadi in Odisha’s Kandhamal recorded the season’s lowest minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. It also saw mild frost.

With the cold wave sweeping the state, the mercury plummeted below 10 degrees Celsius at 19 places. Phulbani recorded 4 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhawanipatna (6), Keonjhar (6.2), Jharsiguda (6.4), Sundargarh (6.5) and Titlagarh (6.8), the India Meteorological Department said.