Bhubaneswar: Biting cold further intensified in the state with the mercury plummeting to 5°C in Phulbani, making it the coldest place in the state Tuesday.
Phulbani was followed by the tourist destination of Daringibadi, also in Kandhamal district, which recorded a minimum temperature of 6°C, the meteorological centre here said.
The temperature dipped below 10°C in at least nine places in the state.
While Keonjhar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.2°C, the mercury stood at 8.6°C in Angul, 9°C in Sonepur, 9.5°C in Balasore and Titlagarh, 9.6°C in Jharsuguda and 9.8°C in Sambalpur, it said.
As most parts of the state shivered Balasore, Sundargarh and Bhawanipatna recorded minimum temperature of 10°C.
The mercury stood at 11.2°C in state capital Bhubaneswar, while neighbouring Cuttack recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4°C, it said.
Cold wave conditions are likely to continue for the next few days in the state. The night temperature in most areas is likely to remain around 3°C below normal during the next three days in the state, the met centre said.
In view of the cold wave conditions sweeping the state, Odisha 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 body authorities have also been asked to provide shelter to the tourists in night shelter homes.
Health department and fisheries and animal resources development departments have been asked to take care of the elderly and the livestock, he added.