Bhubaneswar: Cold wave conditions tightened its grip over the state Monday as the temperature slid below 10 degrees Celsius in at least 11 places.
Phulbani was the coldest place in the state recording a minimum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, while the mercury dipped to 7 degrees Celsius at the tourist destination of Daringibadi, also in Kandhamal district, the meteorological centre here said.
Keonjhar recorded 7.2 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature stood at 7.6 degrees Celsius at Angul, 8 degrees at Sonepur, 9 degrees at both Titlagarh and Sundargarh, 9.1 degree in Balasore, 9.5 degree in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda, it said.
The mercury plummeted to 9.1 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneswar, while neighbouring Cuttack recorded a minimum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius.
Both Baripada and Bolangir recorded 10 degrees Celsius, it said.
Coastal areas of the state also recorded a sharp fall in the night temperature.
The night temperature in most parts of the state is likely to remain 3 to 4 degrees Celsius below normal during the next three days in the state, it added.
With most parts of the state shivering under intense cold, the state government has asked district collectors to take steps to provide night accommodation to the homeless inside schools and public buildings, an official said.
The civic authorities have also been asked to provide shelter to the tourists in night shelters.
The Health department and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development department have been asked to take care of the elderly and the livestock, the official added.