PHULBANI: Severe cold wave continues to sweep the State with the day and night temperatures slipping to below normal.
Phulbani town in Kandhamal district recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius on Friday night, the lowest in the season. While several interior pockets in the district hovered around 2, it was -2 degree C in Belghar area and -3 in Daringbadi.
There was mild snowfall in Khajurinala, Panasapadi, Gulimarapada, Nuasahi and Balliguda areas. A thin layer of snow was clearly visible in these places in the morning. Last year too, Daringbadi had witnessed scattered snowfall.
Officials in the Met Department said the fall in temperature is a result of the untimely rain that continued in the district for two days last week.
The plummeting mercury has made life miserable for locals. While people are preferring to stay indoors after sunset, business establishments are opening late.