The severe cold wave in Jharkhand has claimed over 45 lives. Eleven deaths were recorded in the capital Ranchi, officials said here on Thursday.
Primary schools here have been shut down till Sunday. Ranchi recorded a minimum of 4.2 degrees Celsius, with one of its locality, Kanke block, shivering at minus 1 degree.
“The situation will continue to remain the same for the next three to four days,” said G.K. Mohanty, an official at the meteorological office. Temperature in some parts, including Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Daltonganj, plummeted below 6 degrees Celsius. He said the western winds were conducive to the formation of a cold wave, especially in the hilly terrain.
He said efforts were on to help the people. “Directions have been issued to distribute blankets and arrange for bonfires at different places to help the poor.”
Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and other northern regions of the country is said to have caused the mercury dip.
