Severe frost grips Koida for fourth straight day, normal life disrupted in Sundargarh

Koida and its surrounding areas in Odisha’s Sundargarh district are waking up under a crystalline glaze for the fourth morning in a row, as a persistent cold spell turns overnight dew into brittle ice and slows life to a crawl. Nighttime temperatures have dipped below 5°C on two successive nights, allowing frost to form widely across fields, roadsides and residential quarters, with daily routines strained by the biting chill.

Scenes from a frozen morning

At daybreak, much of Koida has been appearing as if dusted in white. The effect has been particularly pronounced in parts of the Koida block, with New Garden Colony reporting some of the most intense frost. Similar conditions have been observed in and around Koida town as well as Kalta, Malda and Tensa. Open spaces, garden plots and rooftops have all carried a thin, glittering film, and in some pockets the frost lingered well into the morning before melting away.

Agricultural patches are bearing the brunt. Grasses and delicate groundcover have stiffened overnight, and the crunch underfoot has become a familiar sound for early risers. The unusual visuals have drawn curiosity—stray dogs and puppies were seen darting and skidding playfully across the icy surface—even as the cold has sharpened the challenges for residents.

Why frost is forming now

Frost is a classic outcome when three ingredients align: clear skies, calm or light winds and saturated near-surface air. Under these conditions, the ground rapidly loses heat after sunset, chilling the air just above it. Moisture condenses and, with temperatures dipping well below the comfort threshold and below 5°C on recent nights, freezes into a delicate crystalline layer. Low-lying and open areas are typically hardest hit, as colder, denser air pools near the surface. The result: a fragile white coat that can make even familiar landscapes look transformed.

While cold snaps occur most winters, such widespread frost in this part of Sundargarh is an uncommon sight. The persistence of the current spell—now four days long—has amplified its impact on everyday life and local ecosystems.

Daily routines upended

Interior settlements have reported the greatest discomfort. Early mornings and late nights are proving especially tough, with residents describing numb hands and feet and a reluctance to step outdoors before the sun gains strength. Outdoor labour—from tending fields to transport and market work—has slowed or shifted later in the day. Those living in homes with limited insulation are feeling the chill most intensely, and vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions may require added care during the coldest hours.

Fields and fauna under stress

Repeated frost can sap the vitality of grasses and threaten tender seedlings. Prolonged exposure may cause leaf burn and stunting, especially for crops in flowering or early growth stages. Water troughs for livestock can develop a thin ice film, limiting access and discouraging drinking in the cold. While many hardy species cope well, the cumulative stress of several frosty mornings can ripple through the local food web, from plant vigor to the insects and birds that depend on them.

Practical steps often recommended by agricultural advisors during frost episodes include:

• Using mulch or straw to insulate soil and protect shallow roots.
• Covering vulnerable seedlings with cloth or plastic sheeting overnight, ensuring ventilation after sunrise.
• Light pre-dawn irrigation to release latent heat as water freezes, which can buffer plants against damage.
• Providing windbreaks and reducing exposure in open plots.
• Ensuring livestock have sheltered, dry bedding and unfrozen water access.

Cold waves in a warming world

While heat extremes dominate climate conversations, cold waves remain part of the seasonal rhythm across the Indian subcontinent. In eastern and central India, frost events can follow nights of clear skies and light winds, often after the passage of weather systems that flush the atmosphere with cooler, drier air. Climate change does not eliminate cold; instead, it shifts probabilities. Research indicates that even as average temperatures rise, variability can sharpen, bringing pronounced swings—from unseasonable warmth to sharp cold snaps—over short intervals.

Local geography shapes outcomes, too. Open fields cool faster than dense urban cores, and small differences in elevation or shelter can determine which neighborhoods wake to a sparkling crust and which do not. In Koida’s case, repeated sub-5°C nights have created the consistency needed for frost to return day after day.

Resilience and the path ahead

For now, life is being rescheduled around the coldest hours. Residents are delaying chores until sunlight softens the frost, roadside tea stalls are doing brisk business once the chill eases, and schools and workplaces are adapting where possible. Many are simply waiting for the next change in the sky: thin morning clouds, a faint wind, or a slightly warmer night is all it may take to break the cycle and restore a more typical winter pattern.

Until then, Koida’s frosted mornings serve as a striking reminder of how quickly weather can reshape daily routines—and how communities in Sundargarh continue to navigate the fine edges of their winter climate, one crisp sunrise at a time.