The intense cold wave killed 33 people across Uttar Pradesh since Saturday night, with some deaths being caused by road accidents due to the dense fog since Saturday night. Seventy-four people have already died due to the cold wave so far this winter.
The intensity of the cold could be gauged from the maximum temperature in Lucknow dropping 7 degrees Celsius below normal to 16 degrees on Sunday.
The killer cold claimed six lives in Mirzapur district in eastern UP and five each in Ballia in the east and Banda in the south. The 17 other deaths took place in eight districts in various parts of the state, the police said in Lucknow.
Some of the deaths since Saturday night took place in road accidents due to the dense fog across UP for the third consecutive day.
The fog also disrupted rail, road and air traffic, with several flights and train services being cancelled or delayed.
In neighbouring Bihar, at least four persons died due to the cold wave as foggy conditions prevailed for the second successive day on Sunday with some parts of the state experiencing light showers.
But a chilling Sunday brought relief to people in Srinagar in the form of the fortnight’s first snowfall. The soft white flakes brought cheer to residents of the Kashmir Valley as they raised night temperatures, with the clouds acting as an insulator. As a result, the night temperature in
{{/usCountry}}But a chilling Sunday brought relief to people in Srinagar in the form of the fortnight’s first snowfall. The soft white flakes brought cheer to residents of the Kashmir Valley as they raised night temperatures, with the clouds acting as an insulator. As a result, the night temperature in
{{/usCountry}}Srinagar rose 4 degrees from –5 over the past week to 0 degrees on Sunday morning.
“Snowfall during this period is important as it lasts and feeds rivers and irrigation projects in the Valley as well as agriculture and horticulture,’’ said Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological department in Srinagar.