Intense cold cripples normal life in Bihar

Intense cold conditions continue to disrupt normal life across Bihar on Saturday. Timings of all schools here have been changed. No respite is likely in the next few days, the Met said.

"Icy winds, fog and a weak Sun shining only for one or two hours have forced people to huddle indoor. It is extremely cold even during the day," said Soumendu Sengupta, Patna Meteorological centre director.

Sengupta said the cold spell would continue in the state till Sunday. He did not even rule out the possibility of the cold and fog and cold conditions aggravating in coming days.

A Disaster Management Department official said the state has been reeling under intense cold for the past ten days and low temperatures would continue for another two days quoting the Met forecast.

Demand for woods, cow-dung cakes, room-heaters and blowers has shot up in the state. Thousands of people, particularly the elderly and children were falling ill.

According to officials at the Patna airport, dense fog and poor visibility has grounded several flights while a dozens were delayed in the last one week.

Dense fog has also led to late running of several long-distance trains and several trains cancelled in last ten days.

Patna recorded a minimum of 4.7 degree Celsius on Friday and Gaya 3.8 degree Celsius.

--IANS

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