Archives

Cold weather in northern India has killed another 44 people in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 232, officials said Monday.

Northern India has been shivering under a cold front that has seen temperatures drop to 5.0 and 6.0 degrees Celsius (41 and 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

Twenty-six deaths were reported from fog-shrouded northern Uttar Pradesh on Monday, official sources told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, taking the state's toll to 78.

In Bihar, one of the poorest states, 18 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, village officials said.

The state shivered under 6.0-degree temperatures Monday morning.

Most of the deaths were reported in rural areas in Bihar, with nine people dying in West Champaran district. Two people succumbed to the cold in the Khushrupur district of the capital Patna.

Local authorities, however, had had no reports of cold-related fatalities.

"The Relief Department has on Monday released 400,000 rupees (8,333 dollars) to the four worst-affected districts for distribution of free wood," an official said.

"The district administrations have been asked to send in their financial requirements for firewood and makeshift tents to shelter the poor."

Rajasthan has also announced deaths along with the hill station town of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

In New Delhi several flights were cancelled on Monday for the second consecutive day due to heavy fog, with many diverted to the western city of Bombay.

But in spite of the dense fog, 39 domestic and 23 international flights landed on Monday using the airport's new Instrument Landing System, PTI said. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager