Cold and fog sweeps northern and eastern India

Cold wave and dense fog sweeping northern India tightened its grip in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh. Dense fog forced the Indian Railways to cancel 22 trains, and reschedule another eight.It also delayed 45 north-bound trains.

The Met office said, Delhi recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius, three notches below the average. In Srinagar, the night temperature slipped to the season's lowest at minus 6.2 degree Celsius. In Himachal Pradesh, the minimum temperature in the hills ranged between minus 13 and minus 20 degree Celsius. 

In Rajasthan, except western districts of the state, the minimum temperature was recorded below 8 degree Celsius



yesterday. 

Eastern India is also reeling under severe cold conditions. In Bihar, 18 people died of cold in Sitamarhi, Araria, East Champaran and Darbhanga districts during the last 24 hours. With this, death toll in cold related incidents has raisen to 66. Classes upto 8 will remain suspended till 13 of this month in government and private schools. 

In Jharkhand, Palamu was coldest place in the state with 4.5 degree Celsius. 

Most parts of Uttar Pradesh are also in the grip of cold wave and fog.Muzaffarnagar was the coldest place in the state with minimum temperature of 3 degree celsius. In Odisha, the hill station Daringbadi registered a minimum temperature of 4 degree Celsius.