New Delhi, Jan 03: Near-freezing temperatures claimed 25 more lives overnight mounting the countrywide death toll in over month-long cold snap to 261 as thick fog in many areas played havoc with road, rail and air traffic. All the fresh fatalities occurred in Uttar Pradesh which is bearing the brunt of the cold fury accounting for 190 deaths so far.
Varanasi was the coldest place in the state with mercury plummeting to four degrees celsius while Lucknow recorded a low of 4.5 degrees celsius.
Dense fog enveloped many areas in Punjab and Haryana forcing road traffic to move at snail's pace. Several trains ran behind schedule.
Amritsar in Punjab shivered at 2.2 degrees celsius, Ambala in Haryana at 3.9 degrees and Chandigarh at 4.6 degrees as weather office said the piercing cold would persist for a few more days.
Icy winds swept Rajasthan with mercury dipping to one degree celsius in Mount Abu, a favourite destination for tourists. Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Churu recorded lows of four degrees celsius each.
There was no let up in cold wave in West Bengal with Kolkata experiencing the season's coldest day at 11.7 degrees celsius.
Mercury plunged to freezing point in Darjeeling while minimum temperatures hovered between 8.3 and 11.4 degrees at Bankura, Berhampore, Krishnagar, Contai and the sea resort of Digha.
Bureau Report