Bhubaneswar, Dec. 28: It's cold and holiday time. But for many, it's a perfect time to stay indoors, under the blanket and sip on hot tea and soups.

With a severe cold wave gripping the state, several places recorded temperatures under 10 degrees Celsius.

The dipping mercury has made it difficult for residents to venture out early in the mornings or stay outdoors late in the evenings, spoiling the holiday mood.

The cold weather is making it difficult for morning walkers to come out of the house at 7am.

"It is impossible to step out at 7 in the morning for a walk. I have been missing my yoga classes due to the weather. Only by 8am, when it is a little sunny, one can go outdoors. Even at that time, it's very difficult to go out due to cold winds," said home-maker Lopamudra Pani.

Schoolchildren had been suffering the most, but a weeklong winter vacation has come to their rescue.

The minimum temperatures in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have fallen from 19 degrees Celsius last week to around 12 degrees Celsius at present. The weather is also playing a party pooper, with residents planning to stay indoors if the cold spell continues.

"We might celebrate the New Year at home if the weather continues to be so cold. We cannot think of staying out for a midnight countdown in these conditions," said Samrat Sahoo, a corporate employee.

The homeless and slum dwellers could be seen huddled in groups in front of bonfires to keep themselves warm at night. The night shelters at Bhimpur and Kharavela Nagar in the city, which can shelter around 200 people, are running full.

Weathermen forecast that the situation will prevail for another 48 hours. "The decrease in temperature is due to the cold wind coming from the Himalayan range and northeast Sikkim, which has significantly decreased the humidity level in the atmosphere. According to the model indicator, cold wave conditions will continue till December 30. However, there would not be any significant change in the weather till January 3," said director of regional metrological centre, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Chandra Sahu.

More than 10 places in the state today recorded a minimum temperature of below 10 degrees Celsius. Daringbadi in Kandhamal district, which is considered as the Kashmir of Odisha, today shivered at 2.5 degrees Celsius.

Two beggars reportedly died due to cold wave conditions in Sundargarh district. Both the beggars had taken shelter in a dilapidated office building on the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation premises near the bus stand in Sundargarh town. The district recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius.