Dense fog, cold wave grips India's northern, eastern states

NEW DELHI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Dense fog and cold wave has gripped India's northern and eastern states, Meteorological department officials said on Wednesday.

The cold wave is experienced in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

In wake of foggy conditions, Indian Railways cancel 22 trains and rescheduled another eight.

Reports said it also delayed 45 north-bound trains.

The Meteorological department office said Delhi recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius, three notches below the average.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is also in the grip of intense cold with night temperature slipping to the season's lowest at minus 6.2 degree Celsius.

In Rajasthan, except western districts of the state, the minimum temperature was recorded below 8 degree Celsius on Tuesday.

Most parts of Uttar Pradesh are also in the grip of cold wave and fog. The state's Muzaffarnagar district was declared the coldest place in the state with minimum temperature recorded at 3 degree Celsius.

Eastern Indian state of Bihar is also reeling under severe cold conditions. According to officials 18 people died of cold in Sitamarhi, Araria, East Champaran and Darbhanga districts during the last 24 hours.

Authorities in the state have closed all the middle schools, both government and private, until Jan 13.

In Jharkhand's Palamu and Odisha's Daringbadi the minimum temperature of 4 degree Celsius was recorded. Enditem