Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: As a severe cold wave sweeps through the capital, many homeless individuals have been forced to spend their nights on the streets under the open sky. Despite the chilling temperatures, they have no choice but to sleep on roadsides, under overpasses, and in public spaces such as Barmunda, Rasulgarh, Bomikhala, Rajmahal, Khandagiri, and Satyanagar locality.

In these harsh conditions, the homeless are using torn blankets and pieces of cloth to shield themselves from the cold, with some even resorting to small rags as makeshift bedding. Gandhi Marg, in particular, has become a spot of intense struggle for the homeless, with teachers and staff members of nearby schools also seen spending the night in makeshift shelters.

Many of these individuals are unable to return home due to the cold and the lack of transport options, and they have no choice but to sleep in places like the Railway Station, Lower PMG, Secretariat, and in front of the Assembly. Streets have become their only refuge. For some, any small, unclaimed space is enough to rest for the night, wrapped in whatever covering they can find.

The situation has become dire, as many have spent the last four days enduring freezing temperatures. With no viable shelter, the homeless continue to face the bitter cold, their plight a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the most vulnerable in the capital during winter.