news details |
|
|
| 15 dead in cold wave | | |
ET DESK
Jammu, Jan 04: Moderate to heavy snowfall in J-K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand intensified the cold wave conditions in northern India on Sunday, claiming 15 more lives and prompting closure of schools even as thick fog disrupted road, train and air traffic, giving commuters a harrowing time.
Twelve people succumbed to cold in Uttar Pradesh and three in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the death toll to 46.
A goods train this morning hit a stationary one in Kanpur apparently due poor visibility caused by fog, seriously injuring one of the drivers. Traffic on the Delhi-Howrah stretch has been disrupted following the accident.
About one-and-a-half feet of snow was recorded in the high altitude areas of Kashmir Valley including Baltal and Drass on Srinagar-Leh national highway since last evening. The Gulmarg ski resort received fresh snow of four to five feet.
Three people died of severe cold in Bharat, Gangyal and Gandhi Nagar localities of Jammu, police said. The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 0.2 degrees Celsius.
The Trikuta hills in Jammu, housing the holy shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi, experienced its first snowfall of the season. However,the yatra to the shrine went on uninterrupted.
Shimla's wait for snow ended last night while rains lashed the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh, sending the mercury down by several notches.
Heavy fog engulfed the national capital disrupting air services delaying about 18 domestic and international flights and leading to cancellation or merger of about 15 others.
The minimum temperature in Delhi at 8.1 degree Celsius. While the minimum temperatures were around or above normal in most of the places in the north, the "wind chill factor" and the snowfall in hill regions left the people shivering, Met officials said.
The Delhi Government issued directives to all its schools not to have classes for students upto eighth till Tuesday in view of prevailing cold wave condition.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi too announced closure of schools till Tuesday. Many private schools including DPS have also decided to extend the winter vacation due to the cold wave condition in the capital.
In UP, six people lost their lives in Balrampur, two each were killed in Fatehpur and Basti and one each in Gonda and Shravasti.
The state government has directed district magistrates to ensure arrangement of bonfires and setting up of temporary shelters to protect people from cold.
A thick blanket of fog marred visibility till late afternoon, adversely affecting rail and road traffic and leaving passengers stranded at bus and railway stations.
The minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius was recored in Gorakhpur while Lucknow recorded 4.7 degrees , according to met office sources. Authorities have already directed the school managements not to hold classes.
Higher reaches of Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas received the season's second snowfall and the plains in Uttarakhand were lashed by intermittent rains.
In Rajasthan, hill station of Mount Abu shivered with temperature touching one degree C last night. Sriganganagar was the coldest place on the plains with 5.5 degree C. Due to clear sky and no northerly winds the night temperature rose considerably in all places in the state last night, Met officials said.
Punjab and Haryana were enjoying sunshine after a gap of several days though light rains did occur at some places in the region. The mercury, which had been hovering under 5 degrees celsius, rose by a few notches.
Chandigarh saw the minimum temperature settling at 7.8 degrees celsius, two degrees above normal. The city also received light showers early this morning, the Meteorological Department said here.
Amritsar, where the minimum had dipped to 1 C two days back, saw a temperature of 6.1 C, two above normal.
The minimum temperatures also rose at most places in Haryana.
Ambala, which received light rains, registered a low of 7.8 C, a degree above normal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
