By IANS
Lucknow : A sharp fall in night temperatures in parts of Uttar Pradesh have claimed 12 lives over the past 48 hours, taking this winter’s toll in the state to 34.
According to a spokesperson of the state relief department: “Agra and Sultanpur recorded the lowest temperatures at 1.8 degrees Celsius, while Lucknow too remained at this season’s lowest of 3.6 degrees.
“Extreme cold conditions prevailed throughout the state with temperatures ranging between 3 and 7 degrees,” he said.
In most cities like Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Rae Bareilly and Meerut, the minimum temperature dipped to 3-4 degrees Celsius. The rocky belt in and around Jhansi remained the warmest with minimum temperatures of around 7 degrees.
There has been little mist or fog, the days have been largely bright and sunny, but a cold wind has added to the chill factor.
“It was the dry and cold westerly winds that had sent the temperature dipping all across the state,” said K.P. Kulshreshtha, director of UP meteorological department. He said the cold wave was likely to continue and predicted the temperatures to fall by 1-2 degrees more in the coming days.
Umesh Sinha, state relief commissioner, said district magistrates have made provisions for temporary shelters as well as bonfires to provide some respite to pavement dwellers. However, according to reports, these arrangements were inadequate.