UP shiver in cold, toll at 22

Lucknow, Dec 14 (UNI) The toll due to cold wave sweeping across Uttar Pradesh has mounted to 22, following the death of three more people during the last 24 hours.

Weathermen have attributed the plunge in temperature to snowfall and rainfall in Uttaranchal.

After a rising trend over the weeks, the chill is expected to intensify in the days ahead with the weathermen forecasting a slight fall in mercury over the next week.

Allahabad was the coldest at 7 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees below the normal temperature. Agra recorded a temperature of 7.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Bareilly at 8.6 degrees Celsius, while Gorakhpur and Kanpur recorded a temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius each.

According to reports, visibility touched extremely low levels owing to dense fog during the morning and evening hours leading to a delay of three trains, including Howra Mail, Siyaldah Express and Kisan Express. This is the third day in succession when all important long route trains were delayed due to fog.

So far, seven people have died of the cold wave in Mahoba, followed by four in Bareilly , three in Hardoi, two each in Banda and Hameepur and one each in Lucknow, Moradabad, Lalitpur and Badaun.

Meanwhile, Weather office has forecast a clear sky with a mist or shallow fog in the next 24 hrs.

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