4 die as winter intensifies grip over north India

Intense cold conditions continued unabated in north India today killing one person in Uttar Pradesh while three others died of suffocation after they lit a coal fire to keep their dwelling warm in Delhi.
Wintry conditions intensified in the national capital as the maximum temperature was recorded at 15 degrees Celsius, seven notches below normal. The minimum settled two notches below the season's average at 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Three persons died of asphyxiation while another is critical in hospital, after they had lit a coal fire (angithi) to keep themselves warm during the night in south Delhi's Hauz Khas area.

The deceased have been identified as Santosh (33), Rajesh (26), and Uday (45). Munna (56), whose condition is critical, is undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile,a 30-year-old man died of cold in Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh where winter chill and foggy conditions continued to prevail with Nazibabad recording the lowest minimum temperature of the state at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Chillai-Kalan, 40 days of harshest winter period, started increasing the chances of first snowfall of the season in the Kashmir Valley which has seen dry weather so far.

The minimum temperature, however, rose by over two degrees in Srinagar as the city recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, compared to the previous night's minus 4.4 degrees.

In Himachal Pradesh, bitting cold conditions continued unabated even as the state witnessed a clear day.
Mercury in tribal areas and higher hills stayed 15 to 20 degrees below freezing point while Keylong, Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 7 degrees C, minus 3 degrees C and minus 1.6 degrees C respectively.
All lakes and other natural sources of water like springs, rivulets and tributaries of major rivers remained frozen in high altitude areas, causing sharp reduction in discharge of water in snow-fed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers.