Bone-chilling cold continued to sting east and north India on Tuesday with the mercury nosediving to seven-year lowest in Kolkata and killing 13 more people in Uttar Pradesh.
West Bengal capital Kolkata recorded a low of 9.9°Celsius — the lowest in seven years, while hill station Darjeeling at -1°C was the coldest in the State. Kolkata had recorded minimum 9.4°C on January 6, 2004.
A cold wave alert has been sounded in 10 districts in the state.
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Severe cold conditions claimed 13 more lives in Uttar Pradesh, taking the Statewide toll to 100 this winter.
While three deaths each were reported from Barabanki and Balrampur districts, two were reported from Kaushambi and one each from Chitrakoot, Basti, Orai, Sant Kabirnagar and Bareilly.
Agra at minimum 1°C was the coldest place in the State.
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Lucknow recorded a minimum of 1.4°C, six notches below normal, while Varanasi recorded a low of 2.7°C, six degrees below normal.
Kanpur shivered at minimum 2.2°C, while it was 4.8°C in Allahabad.
Chill intensified in Bihar as north-westerly winds continued to sweep the region, prompting the State Government to announce closure of all schools till January 14.
Gaya at minimum 3.9°C was the coldest in the State.
The minimum temperature in state capital Patna settled at 5.5°C as against 8.5°C recorded on Monday.
Elsewhere, Purnia recorded a low of 5.9°C, while it was 7.2°C in Bhagalpur.
Low temperature coupled with icy winds made life miserable for the people in Delhi where the minimum temperature settled below the normal level.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 4.6°C, two degrees below normal for this time of the year.
However, there was no dense fog in the city and flight operations were normal at the IGI airport.