Cold wave sweeps parts of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Nov 14 (IANS) A cold wave was sweeping parts of Odisha Wednesday with the district headquarter town of Phulbani, about 200 km from here, recording 7.6 degrees Celsius, the day’s lowest temperature recorded in the state, an official said.

The minimum temperature was 4-5 degrees below average in several other places, especially in the interior belt of the state, a senior official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

The other places where the minimum temperature prevailed below average included Koraput (10.8 degrees Celsius), Keonjhar (10.0 degrees Celsius), Bolangir (11.9 degrees Celsius) and Jharsuguda (14.0 degrees Celsius), he said.

Cold wave conditions may prevail in many parts of the state during the next two days, the official added.

In view of the cold wave, the state government earlier this week announced financial assistance for the elderly, widows and disabled people to enable them to buy winter clothes.

The beneficiaries would receive Rs.200 each Dec 15, along with their monthly pension.

IANS 2012-11-14 11:24:10