Coldwave claims five lives in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Feb 7 (UNI) Severe coldwave continuing since last fortnight, has claimed five lives in the last 48 hours.

Two boys, Aala Sajan (9) and Dhara (11), both from Jamnagar district, were burnt alive when a spark of the fire they had lit to get some warmth, touched the hut in which they were sleeping and it caught fire. Nurbai Haji Ismail (60), also from Jamnagar, was burnt alive in a similar incident.

Two beggars, one in Talala and another in Kodinar in Saurashtra, also lost their lives due to exposure to excessive cold.

The border town of Nalia in Kutch has recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 0.4 degree Celsius. Deesa recorded 3.3 degrees, Rajkot 5.4, Bhuj 6.1, Amreli 5.4, Ahmedabad 7, Vadodara 7.6 and Surat recorded 10.6 degrees. Porbandar recorded its lowest temperature in 30 years at 7.2 degrees.

The weather office, meanwhile, has forecast a continued spell of coldwave for few days more.

UNI HT SR BDP DB1906