Cold wave claims 35 lives in Bihar

Patna, Jan 05 (UNI) The cold wave sweeping Bihar has claimed about 35 lives and threw life out of gear even as the mercury continued to move south.

In view of the bone chilling cold, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had ordered closure of all schools and colleges in the state till the 10th of this month.

According to reports received from various parts of the state, 35 people had so far lost their lives to cold. Five people in Purnea, while four each died in Patna, Muzaffarpur,West Champaran, Sitamarhi, and Katihar.Three people died in Samastipur, while two each died in East Champaran and Rohtas.One person each died in Madhubani, Saharsa and Madhepura.

As per the chief minister's directive bonfires were arranged in Patna and other districts.

''Instructions had been issued to district magistrates to ensure distribution of blankets among the poor,'' Mr Kumar added.

The state government had also directed the jail superintendents to provide three blankets each to all jail inmates.

Fog and smog which had engulfed almost all parts of the state since early morning, made flight schedules topsy turvy. Similarly several long distance and local trains were running behind schedule.

Meanwhile, the weatherman predicted the cold wave conditions would continue for the next 24 hours.

Patna recorded minimum temperature of 6.7 degree celsius while the maximum was 22.2 degree celsius.Gaya was slightly colder at 5.7 degree celsius. The maximum was 22.3 degree celsius. Bhagalpur recorded minimum temperature of 9.6 degree celsius and maximum of 18.0 degree celsius.

UNI