Cold claims 13 lives in North India

NEW DELHI: 13 people were killed in North India today due to biting cold which tightened its grip across the region.

In capital Delhi, the maximum temperature was 16.6 degrees celsius, four notches below normal, while the minimum was 9.2 degrees celsius, two degrees above normal.

In Uttar Pradesh, 13 people were killed due to cold in various parts of the state in the last 24 hours.

While three persons died due to extreme cold in Barabanki, two each died in Bijnore, Sultanpur and Chandauli and one each in Gazipur, Baghpat, Banda and Sonebhadra in the last 24 hours, officials said.

With these deaths, the toll due to intense cold this winter rose to 34 in the state.

Maximum temperatures remained below normal by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in many parts of the state, Met office said.

Agra was coldest in the state with the minimum at 2.6 degree celsius.

Cold wave conditions continued to prevail in Rajasthan with Churu being the coldest place recording a minimum of 3.7 degrees celsius.

Sriganganagar, Chittorgarh and Dabok recorded minimum temperatures of 5.1, 5.8, 6.6 degrees celsius respectively while other areas recorded night temperature between 7 and 9.4 degrees celsius, according to the Met department here.

Intense cold wave swept most parts of Punjab and Haryana, with icy winds and foggy weather disrupting normal life in the two states.