Cold wave continues in North India

At least 10 more lives have been claimed by a cold wave gripping North India.

New Delhi, Jan 2 : At least 10 more lives have been claimed by a cold wave gripping North India.

Eight have died in Uttar Pradesh and two in Punjab.

Punjab and Haryana are the two states that have been most severely affected by the cold wave.

In the capital, the night temperature on Wednesday plummeted to around one degree celsius.

Many people in New Delhi claimed that they noticed 'snow-like' ice on their cars when they woke up in the morning.

"We have seen that there is frost over a few cars. This is the first time in this season that we are experiencing such cold wave conditions," said Balwinder, a resident.

There is no cheer from Meteorological department too which has said that the cold wave conditions are likely to persist for a couple of more days.

The mercury level has went down to 1.8 degrees Celsius in Agra where the death count has reached at 30.

The situation in Bihar is equally bad where many people have died because of severe cold.

In Patna, the poor people are the worst affected due to lack of warm clothing and wood to make bonfires to keep themselves warm.

"It's so cold out here. We are somehow trying to cope up with the conditions. But we do not have warm clothes and no wood to burn fire. All this is making life difficult. Even the government is not helping us," said Shiv, a resident.

The mercury level plunged to minus one degree Celsius in Churu in Rajasthan.

Surprisingly, the hill resort of Shimla is warmer with mercury levels pegged at 3.5 degrees Celsius.

In the Kashmir Valley, summer capital Srinagar recorded minus four degrees Celsius.

ANI