By IANS,
Ranchi : The bone-penetrating cold wave has claimed over 45 lives in Jharkhand this winter, capital Ranchi recording the highest 11 deaths, officials said. Primary schools here have been shut till Sunday due to the intense chill.
“More than 45 people have died due to cold wave in the state. Efforts are on to protect people. Directions have been issued to distribute blankets and arrange for bonfires at different places to help the poor people,” an official told IANS.
However, the toll is well over 100 across the state, according to local newspapers.
Ranchi recorded a minimum of 4.2 degrees Celsius Wednesday with one of its locality, Kanke block, shivering at 0.5 degree.
“We get little relief till fire is on. After midnight, when fire is extinguished, we virtually freeze,” said Sanjay, a handicapped man living near Albert Ekka roundabout here.
In Lohardagga and Garwah districts, the mercury has been recorded at a minimum of 2.2 and 2.5 degrees respectively. In ten of the 24 districts, the temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius.
According to Met department, the cold wave is likely to continue for a few days. Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himanchal Pradesh and other northern regions of the country is said to have caused the mercury to dip.