With persistent cold wave conditions in Uttar Pradesh made worse by recent spell of rainfall, the state government has so far incurred nearly Rs 24 crore on bonfire and distribution of free blankets to the poor.
Besides, the government has set up 500 temporary night shelter homes to protect the destitute from biting cold.
While Rs 20 crore had been incurred on distributing 3.25 lakh blankets, bonfire arrangements had been made at 8,500 public spots.
The first day of calendar 2015 had witnessed sporadic rainfall in UP, which pulled down mercury further.
Following the cold wave, the secondary level schools have remained closed over the last two weeks and are likely to reopen only when the weather conditions improve.
According to the regional metrological department, a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal was responsible for the sudden change in climate, which stoked strong easterlies bring moisture to parts of Bihar and UP causing downpour and dip in temperature.
The rainfall activity is likely to persist for the next two days, especially in the eastern UP region. Over the past weeks, the state had already been experiencing icy winds and foggy conditions throwing normal life out of gear to some extent.
So far, over 100 people have reportedly died in the state owing to the incidents related to cold wave and fog.
The respective district magistrates had been directed to form special teams for the inspection of relief measures against cold. Medical preparedness to deal with cold related incidents had also been upgraded.
A state government spokesperson said additional demand for funds towards measures to deal with cold was being met with alacrity.
Meanwhile, the power demand has shot up in UP with people consuming more energy to run heat converters and blowers to beat cold wave conditions.
