Biting cold further intensified in Odisha with the mercury plummeting to 5 degree celsius in Phulbani, making it the coldest place in the state on Tuesday.

Phulbani was followed by the tourist destination of Daringibadi, also in Kandhamal district, which recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degree celsius, the meteorological centre here said.

The temperature dipped below 10 degree Celsius in at least nine places in the state.

While Keonjhar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.2 degree Celsius, the mercury stood at 8.6 degree in Angul, 9 degree in Sonepur, 9.5 degree in Balasore and Titlagarh, 9.6 degree in Jharsuguda and 9.8 degree in Sambalpur, it said.

As most parts of the state shivered Balasore, Sundargarh and Bhawanipatna recorded minimum temperature of 10 degree celsius.

The mercury stood at 11.2 degree celsius in state capital Bhubaneswar, while neighbouring Cuttack recorded a minimum temperatuer of 11.4 degree celsius, 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 degree celsius 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.

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