Cold wave intensifies, Delhi shivers at 2.4 degree Celsius

New Delhi: Cold wave continues to throw life out of gear in North India with the minimum temperature dipping to 2.4 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Monday.Though the minimum temperature in Delhi improved partially from Sunday''s 1.9 degrees to 2.4 it still remains five degrees below normal.Although visibility remained normal, the early morning fog affected road, rail and air traffic in the national capital, affecting schedules of seven international and nine domestic flights.In Uttar Pradesh, cold wave has claimed 15 more lives, taking the toll in the state this winter to 155.Muzaffarnagar continued to remain the coldest place in the state, recording a low of 0.2 degrees.The maximum temperatures too remained below normal by six to 13 degrees in many parts of the state even though the night temperature rose marginally in Varanasi and Allahabad divisions.In Haryana, Narnaul shivered with a minimum temperature at zero degrees for the second successive day, while Chandigarh had a low of three degrees on Sunday.In Jammu and Kashmir, Leh was followed by Kargil (minus 17.4 degrees Celsius), while the night temperature in Srinagar, was minus 4.6 degrees Celsius and 6.9 degrees in Jammu.In Himachal, mercury dropped further at many places. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 10.4 degree. Solan recorded a minimum of minus 3.5 degrees, Manali minus 3 degrees, and Shimla 0.9 degree.The biting cold and icy winds have aggravated the agony of several homeless people, who are living on the streets and warmed themselves by sitting around the bonfire. (ANI)