Cold claims over 400 lives in north India; fog disrupts air and rail traffic
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 17, 2010
Fog crippled normal life in North India
Intense cold wave conditions prevailing in North India have claimed more than four hundred lives so far. Temperature dropped in Punjab and Haryana on Sunday while a thick blanket of fog engulfed the national capital Delhi and adjacent areas affecting various domestic and international flights and train services.
The government estimates that 23 people died in Uttar Pradesh due to biting cold weather. The state accounts for 379 deaths so far this winter.
Poor visibility due to fog led to a train accident Sunday morning in Tundla in Uttar Pradesh in which three persons were killed and 14 others wounded. This was the fourth fog-related train mishap in the state this fortnight forcing the railway ministry to issue new guidelines for operations during the winter season.
After a temporary respite from biting cold for a couple of days, icy cold winds blew in Amritsar, which recorded a low of 0.8 degree Centigrade, this is three degree below the normal level during the season.
Mercury also dropped at Ludhiana, where the low settled at 2.2 deg C, down four degrees. Patiala faced a cold night at 3.7 degree Centigrade, three degrees below the normal.
Severe cold gripped Chandigarh, which recorded a low of 4.3 degree Centigrade, two degrees below the normal level.
In Haryana, biting cold swept Narnaul which recorded a minimum temperature at 2.3 degree Centigrade. In Karnal temperature dipped to 2.8 degree centigrade that is four degrees below normal.
Mercury dipped to nearly four degree centigrade in Rohtak and Ambala during the last night.
Jammu reeled under intense cold with night temperature in the region slipping by a few notches. However, people in Kashmir Valley got some relief from intense cold.
Foggy weather conditions affected flight operations in Chandigarh. Jet Airways has suspended all its flights operating from Chandigarh till 18th January.
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