Cold wave death toll rises 42

LUCKNOW, India, Tuesday (AFP) At least seven people froze to death at the weekend as unusually cold weather gripped northern India, taking the death toll to 42, officials said Monday.

"Three more people died of cold overnight," taking the weekend toll in Uttar Pradesh state to five, said police spokesman Surendra Srivastava from the state capital Lucknow.

Two more deaths were reported in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab, taking the death toll in northern India to 42 since early December, the Indian health ministry said.