UP 'chills' to welcome New Year

Lucknow, Dec 30 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh is likely to have a cold and snappy New Year 2007, with most parts of the state recording considerable fall in temperature.

So far, the marked rise in temperature accompanied by bright sunshine was keeping the biting winters at bay.

During the last 24 hours, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Agra and Gorakhpur divisions witnessed fall in the night temperature, the met office told UNI here today.

Kanpur at 4.6 degrees Celsius -- 3 degrees below normal -- was the coldest place in UP.

A report from Allahabad said despite a fall in night temperature the administration has made no bonfire arrangements for the homeless. People are also posed with problems due to heavy load shedding.

The visibility level was extremely low due to the thick fog blanket in the state.

According to reports, all important trains, including Triveni Express and Ganga Gomti Express were running five hours late.

Due to dense fog cover in the skyline, the road transport also came to a standstill.

The weatherman has forecast mainly a clear sky with thick fog envelope during the early and late hours.

Meanwhile, the toll due to cold mounted to 56, following death of six more people in the last 48 hours in Mahoba, Hardoi and Allahabad districts.

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