Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 (IANS) The cold wave abated slightly in Orissa Tuesday with the mercury rising across the state, an official said.
The minimum temperature rose to seven degrees Celsius in Phulbani town of Kandhamal district after recording the season’s lowest of four degrees Sunday. Cold wave conditions had prevailed in the state for much of last week.

“The rise in minimum temperature is mainly due to increase in moisture content in the atmosphere,” Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre director S.C. Sahu told IANS.

“There may be a fall in temperature as soon as the moisture gets cleared. We may witness a cold wave again,” he said.

The minimum temperature rose to 7.4 degree Celsius Tuesday at Sambalpur town from Monday’s 6.8 degree Celsius.

The minimum temperature recorded Tuesday at state capital Bhubaneswar and its adjoining Cuttack city were 15.1 and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Bhubaneswar and Cuttack had recorded minimum temperatures of 13 and 11.5 degrees Celsius Monday, Bhubanewar meteorological centre said.

No loss of life has been reported from any part of the state so far due to cold wave, an official of the state revenue control room here said.