UP worst hit by cold wave; death toll rises to 103

Thirteen more people, including two children, died due to severe cold conditions in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, taking the toll in the state this winter to 103.

According to an official of the disaster management department, the cold wave claimed three lives each in Barabanki and Balrampur, two in Gonda and one each in Chitrakoot, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Jalaun and Barielly in the last 24 hours.

While Agra continued to remain the coldest place in UP at 1 degree celsius, Lucknow remained a close second with the temperature dropping to 1.4 degrees stated to be 6 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in Lucknow remained unchanged at 13

degrees.

While Varanasi recorded a low of 2.7 degrees, six notches below normal, the minimum temperature in Allahabad d was 4.8 degrees.

The minimum temperature in Gorakhpur was just about 7.6 degrees and icy conditions prevailed in the city and its neighbourhood because the day temperature did fall below beyond 12.4 degrees.

Both rail and air traffic continued to remain adversely affected by the weather conditions, which according to officials from the meteorological department, were likely to remain unchanged for the next few days.

The freezing conditions kept most people indoors. Educational institutions have been officially shut until January 15.