Further deaths from India's big freeze
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Near-freezing temperatures and icy winds killed 13 people overnight in northern India, bringing the death toll to nearly 100 from a cold snap that began three weeks ago, police said yesterday.
The worst-hit is the state of Uttar Pradesh, where at least 81 people - mostly poor and homeless - have died because of the intense cold.
At least 13 people died overnight in Uttar Pradesh, police spokesman Surendra Srivastav said yesterday.
In New Delhi, 10 people have died in the past two weeks, while six deaths were reported in Jharkhand state.
Uttar Pradesh is one of India's poorest states and nearly a fifth of its 180 million people are homeless, according to state government statistics.
The state government has arranged for nearly 3,500 bonfires to be lit through the night at major road crossings, railway and bus stations to prevent further deaths from the cold wave that has gripped the state since the last week of December.
Schools have been ordered closed in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and neighboring Bihar state until the weather improves.
The temperature dipped below 3 degrees Celsius in parts of Uttar Pradesh, with the mercury plunging to 0.6 degrees Celsius in Agra.
Though India is famous for hot summers, temperatures fall sharply for a few weeks in December and January. The poor, especially those living on the streets, are usually worst hit.
The worst-hit is the state of Uttar Pradesh, where at least 81 people - mostly poor and homeless - have died because of the intense cold.
At least 13 people died overnight in Uttar Pradesh, police spokesman Surendra Srivastav said yesterday.
In New Delhi, 10 people have died in the past two weeks, while six deaths were reported in Jharkhand state.
Uttar Pradesh is one of India's poorest states and nearly a fifth of its 180 million people are homeless, according to state government statistics.
The state government has arranged for nearly 3,500 bonfires to be lit through the night at major road crossings, railway and bus stations to prevent further deaths from the cold wave that has gripped the state since the last week of December.
Schools have been ordered closed in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and neighboring Bihar state until the weather improves.
The temperature dipped below 3 degrees Celsius in parts of Uttar Pradesh, with the mercury plunging to 0.6 degrees Celsius in Agra.
Though India is famous for hot summers, temperatures fall sharply for a few weeks in December and January. The poor, especially those living on the streets, are usually worst hit.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
