Cold Wave Tightens Grip on Odisha; Jharsuguda Records Lowest Temperature in 73 Years

Cold Wave Tightens Grip on Odisha; Jharsuguda Records Lowest Temperature in 73 Years

Odisha is reeling under an intense cold wave, with several districts witnessing record-breaking low temperatures this winter. Jharsuguda has created history by recording its lowest-ever temperature of 4.5°C on January 10, 2026, the coldest since 1953. Notably, the district broke its previous all-time low of 5.6°C, recorded in January 2023, five times this season.

Weather data shows Jharsuguda recorded 4.6°C on January 9, 5°C on January 16, 5.1°C on January 6, and 5.4°C on January 7, highlighting the severity and persistence of the cold spell. Weather expert Uma Shankar Das confirmed that this winter has decisively surpassed earlier records, with January 8 also recording a low of 5.8°C.

The cold wave has affected several other parts of the state as well. Rourkela recorded 3.6°C on January 9, making it the fourth coldest city in the country. In Cuttack, the minimum temperature dropped to 8.9°C, breaking a 21-year-old record set in 2004. Meanwhile, dense fog has worsened conditions in southern Odisha, especially in Kandhamal district, where poor visibility has disrupted daily life and posed challenges for commuters.