By IANS,
Lucknow : The cold wave has claimed at least 30 lives in Uttar Pradesh since Saturday, an official said Monday. The met office has predicted no change in the weather for the next two-three days.
“Of the 30 deaths, the maximum have taken place in the eastern regions, including Mirzapur district, Ballia district, where five deaths each were reported Sunday,” an official of the disaster management department told IANS.
“The deaths have also been reported from others districts, including Banda, Fatehpur, Sonbhadra, Chanduali, Kanpur rural (Dehat) and Unnao,” he added.
According to the state met office, chilly and cloudy weather conditions would continue to prevail in parts of the state.
“For at least the next two days, the weather will remain cloudy with possibilities of light rain and thundershowers in isolated places today (Monday),” state met department director J.P. Gupta told IANS.
Prevailing weather conditions were attributed to the western disturbance that caused snowfall in the hill states and light rain in the Gangetic plains.
“The western disturbance from North Pakistan entered the western regions Sunday and now it is heading towards eastern Uttar Pradesh. There will be no significant relief from the existing cold conditions for two-three days,” he added.
The lowest minimum temperature, 2.8 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Shahjahanpur district Sunday evening. In Lucknow, the minimum temperature was recorded at 8.6 degrees Celsius.
“In Lucknow, all schools up to class 8 have been closed till Jan 7. Students of class 9-12 will attend school 10 a.m-3p.m,” district inspector of schools in Lucknow Ganesh Kumar told IANS.