Railway worker run over by engine in dense fog in Bikaner

New Delhi,Dec 28 (UNI) A railway worker was killed when he was run over by a train engine owing to low visibility due to dense fog in Bikaner.

Rajasthan is in the grip of an intense cold wave, following snowfall in the northern states and the upper reaches of Himalayas.

The temperatures dipped three to five degrees celsius at several places across the state. Fog and smog cover clouded most places in the state and the accompnaying chill made people shiver.

At 3.4 degrees Celsius, Churu remained the coldest place in the state today. Chilly weather with low visibility made people stay indoors in Churu, Ganganagar, Bikaner and Pilani till 0800 hrs in the morning.

Many flights were delayed by more than an hour due to dense fog.

Train services was also affected due to fog.

Several parts of North-West India were in the grip of a cold wave with the mercury hovering below normal at many places in the region.

A dense fog enveloped several areas, reducing visibility to zero at Pathankot and Adampur and upto 400 metres at Palam (Delhi) and 500 metres at Jammu, Halwara and Sarsawa in the morning.

Despite the cold wave sweeping Haryana, the temperatures stayed above normal in the state. Karnal with 7.4 degrees, one degree below normal, was the coldest place in the state, followed by Ambala and Hissar recording 8.0 degrees each.

Amritsar with 3.0 degrees, one degree below normal, was the coldest place in Punjab. Ludhiana recorded the minimum at 6.8 degrees while Patiala registered 7.6 degrees.

A severe cold wave swept Himachal Pradesh following further fall in the temperature. Icy-cold winds blew across the state despite sunny weather.

After about a fortnight of chilly days and nights, it was a sunny day in Kashmir, much to the delight of people who were busy shopping for Id.

People in Kargil and Drass, continued to shiver as the minimum temperature remained minus 20 degrees Celsius.

A weather office spokesman said the minimum temperature in the Kashmir valley was minus 2.2 degrees, which is near normal during the 40-day Chalai Kalan, the coldest period of winter season.

The day was little hot as the maximum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees at 1400 hours.

There was no report of any rain or snowfall from any part of the valley today.

In Uttar Pradesh, there was a marked rise in temperature accompanied by bright sunshine.

The night temperature hovered above normal in Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Agra, Gorakhpur and Faizabad divisions.

Agra at eight degrees Celsius -- one degree above normal -- was the coldest place in UP. However, the state capital recorded nine degrees, which was three notches below normal.

In the last 24 hrs, 10 degrees Celsius was recorded in Bareilly, followed by 11 degrees each in Varanasi, Kanpur, Bahraich and Sultanpur districts.

A report from Allahabad said the homeless are faced with problems as the administration has made no arrangements for bonfires.

Meanwhile, the toll due to cold climbed to 47, following the death of one more person in Bhadohi during the last 24 hrs.

In the capital, the dense fog that enveloped the skyline yesterday somewhat dissipated today even as there was no sign of a let up in the morning chill.

The chill in the morning air remained and the mercury dipped slightly to 9.5 Degree C.

Shillong experienced the coldest day of the month today, with the minimum temperature dropping to 4.9 degree Celsius, met officials said.

The sudden dip of mercury and the dense fog gave the entire city a deserted look.

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