Bhubaneswar, December 3, 2009: Christians displaced by last year's violence in Orissa now faces extreme cold due to sudden dip in temperatures.

According to an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre, an unexpected cold wave has hit several western and interior regions of Orissa, paralysing normal life.

Phulbani town recorded a temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest in the state.

The meteorological department has predicted that the weather will continue the same for next few days.

Most places in northern region comprising Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts is also said to have experienced cold wave conditions.

“For the last seven to eight days, the wind pattern is northerly or north-easterly. So, it causes the flow of wind from northeastern parts of the country or from the Himalayan region towards this region. So, it causes a drop in temperature,” ANI quoted SC Sahu, Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, saying.

A large number of people were seen huddling around bonfires to keep themselves warm in the places with low temperatures. (Babu Thomas)