Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21: Cold wave conditions continue to rattle residents with snowfall being reported from many parts in Daringbadi, popularly known as the Kashmir of Odisha.

Kandhamal was the coldest with the minimum temperature touching 2.4°C. The minimum temperatures of Koraput and Keonjhar were 6.5 and 7.1 degrees Celsius respectively.

As many as 12 places in the state today recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and below.

The temperature in Bhubaneswar has also dipped significantly over the past few days with the capital today recording a minimum temperature of 11.8 degrees.

'I have been living in Koraput for the past 20 years, but have never felt so cold in December. It has become impossible to step outside the house before 10am. Nights too are becoming unbearable. Severe cold wave is affecting the daily life with market closing much earlier,' said Arun Samantray, a resident of Jeypore in Koraput district.

However, there is no news of immediate respite from the cold. Officials in the regional meteorological office said the cold wave condition would continue till December 29.

'While the wind is blowing from the north and west Himalayan region, clear skies has resulted in night temperatures falling in most parts of the state,'said Sarat Chandra Sahu, director of regional meteorological centre, Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar, too, is reeling from cold wave conditions as the temperature has dipped by almost six degrees in the past seven days. Most people stay indoors during early morning and late night to avoid the cold wind.

'It is impossible to get out of the house even in winter clothes. We are trying to return home as early as possible,' said Rakesh Patnaik, an employee with a private company.

Statistics available with the regional meteorological centre revealed that the city had recorded minimum temperature of below 12°C in December five times in the last decade.

The all time minimum temperature of the city for the month of December was 9.1 degrees Celsius, which was recorded on December 12, 1996.

Cold wave, along with dense fog in the early morning, has made situation difficult for commuters.

'I was supposed to visit Cuttack this morning for official work. However, the dense fog in the morning made it extremely difficult for me to ride my motorcycle on the road and I had to return home midway,' said Suraj Mohanty, a resident of Rasulgarh in the city.