Cold waves claim two lives

As cold waves intensified across Himachal, two deaths were reported due to cold in Shimla and Dharamsala on Tuesday.

As cold waves intensified across Himachal, two deaths were reported due to cold in Shimla and Dharamsala on Tuesday.

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Local police found a body at old inter-state bus terminal (ISBT) on Monday afternoon. The body was sent for postmortem to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC). The autopsy report revealed that victim died of cold. “There was no sign on injury and the person died of cold,” said IGMC senior medical superintendent Dr Ramesh Chand.

Shimla additional superintendent of police (ASP) BD Negi said the victim, seems to be over 50, is yet to be identified. “He is Nepalese but so far no one has claimed the body. It is the first death reported due to cold in the district,” he said.

In Shimla, minimum temperature was recorded at 2.9 degree Celsius. In the day time, icy winds have been sweeping the state capital besides several other places across the state. In Manali, the minimum temperature was recorded at -2.4 degree Celsius while minimum temperature in Dharamshala was 4.8 degree Celsius. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district at -7.3 degree Celsius night temperature remained the coldest, and Kalpa in Kinnaur was recorded at -1.4 degree Celsius (minimum temperature).

Minimum temperature in Una was 0.8 degree Celsius, in Bhuntar near Kullu, it was 0.6 degree Celsius; Solan's minimum temperature was 1degree Celsius, Chamba' 1.8 degree Celsius and Sundernagar was recorded minimum at 1 degree Celsius.

Family members told that Singh was out for some work on Monday and didn't return home for the whole night. Locals spotted his body on Tuesday morning. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The autopsy report indicates that the victim suffered severe hypothermia.