Cold wave toll crosses 100 mark

Lucknow, Jan 8 (UNI) The cold wave sweeping through eastern Uttar Pradesh since last week claimed six more lives, even as the toll crossed the 100 mark to reach 104 today.

The met office attributed the extreme cold wave to moisture feed from Rajasthan and snowfall in Uttarakhand. The weatherman have forecast a further drop in mercury in the coming days.

Although, Lucknowites got some relief due to bright sunshine, people in other parts of UP continued to shiver for the second consecutive week.

Reports from Siddharthnagar and Ghazipur districts said two persons each died of cold during the last 24 hrs, followed by one each in Moradabad and Deoria districts.

According to weatherman, dry icy winds lashed the state, making people shiver even during the day despite a bright sunshine.

Allahabad, Bareilly, Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow and Kanpur divisions witnessed a fall in night temperature, the met office told UNI here.

Agra at 3.2 degrees Celsius, 4 degree below normal, was the coldest place in UP for the second consecutive week. Other districts too recorded 2-4 degrees below normal temperatures.

Meanwhile, fog continued to play havoc on the schedule of trains.

All major long-distance trains, including Awadh-Assam Express, Barauni Express, Doon Express, Shaheed Express, Sabarmati Express and Gomti Express were late.

Kisan Express was suspended for today, 4723/4724 Kalindi Express, 5003/5004 Chauri Chaura Express and Farukhabad Passenger have been suspended till January 31.

People are also facing hardships due to heavy load shedding in Meerut, Mahoba, Allahabad, Siddharthnagar, Bareilly, Moradabad, Badaun, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Saharanpur and Bijnore districts.

Mornings would continue to be foggy. But, the density of fog would depend on moisture content in the atmosphere.

UNI