Bhubaneswar, 12/1 : A severe cold wave has tightened its grip across Odisha, sending shivers down the spine of the state as temperatures plunged to historic lows in several districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘Yellow Warning’ for severe cold wave conditions in at least 10 districts, prompting the state administration to announce the closure of schools in interior regions to ensure the safety of students.
According to the latest bulletin from the IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre, the cold wave is expected to persist for the next 24 to 48 hours, with dry, icy winds from the north-northwest battering the state. The plummeting mercury has disrupted normal life, particularly in the western and interior belts, where residents woke up to frost-covered fields and biting chill.
Record-Breaking Chill
The steel city of Rourkela recorded its lowest-ever minimum temperature at a bone-chilling 3.6°C, making it one of the coldest places in the plains of India today. Jharsuguda followed closely, registering a record low of 4.6°C—its coldest night in 72 years. The chill was equally unforgiving in the tribal heartlands, with G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district freezing at 3.0°C and Phulbani recording 5.0°C. Even the coastal capital, Bhubaneswar, was not spared, recording a minimum of 9.4°C, a sharp departure from its typically moderate winter.
Districts on Alert
The IMD has identified 10 districts as the most affected, issuing a high alert for:
1. Sundargarh
2. Jharsuguda
3. Angul
4. Keonjhar
5. Deogarh
6. Kandhamal
7. Kalahandi
8. Sonepur
9. Koraput
10. Sambalpur
Schools Closed
In response to the plummeting temperatures, district collectors in the affected interior regions have ordered the suspension of classes for primary and upper primary schools (Class I to VIII). “The health and safety of children are paramount. Given the severe drop in temperature and dense fog in the morning hours, schools in the identified cold wave zones will remain closed until further notice,” stated a senior official from the School and Mass Education Department. Secondary schools (Class IX to XII) may continue to operate but with rescheduled timings, likely starting later in the day at 10:00 AM.
Forecast and Advisory
Meteorologists attribute this sudden freeze to a persistent anti-cyclonic circulation over Central India, which is channeling cold, dry winds into Odisha. While the IMD forecasts a gradual rise in night temperatures by 2-3°C after January 14, the next two days remain critical.
Dense fog warnings have also been issued for the districts of Cuttack, Khordha, and Puri, reducing visibility to under 50 meters in some pockets and affecting vehicular movement on national highways. Health experts have advised the elderly and those with respiratory ailments to limit outdoor exposure during early morning and late night hours.
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