Cold Wave kills 60 in North India, Life comes to Halt

Intense cold wave continues across North India, thanks to the heavy snow fall in the Himalayas and other mountain ranges. At least 60 people have died so far in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab due to unbearable cold. Situation may prevail for another a week or so.

At least 36 flights were delayed and 2 others were cancelled due to dense fog in Delhi. Over 138 trains are running late, while 50 others have been rescheduled in the national capital. Delhi recorded the coldest December in 11 years, as the mercury level fell to 4.2 degrees Celsius.

In Himachal Pradesh, heavy snowfall has disrupted the normal life. Many tourists are reportedly struck on the way. In Jammu & Kashmir, the Dal Lake has begun to freeze. Srinagar recorded a lowest temperature of this season at -1.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday. In Rajasthan, Churu experienced the coldest night of the season with the mercury level at 0.5 degrees Celsius.

With moist winds approaching the Himalayas from the northwest — known as a western disturbance, may trigger further decline in minimum temperature after December 24 and make things very difficult for the common people.