UP shivers as cold wave intensifies after rain

As rain lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh, the state continued to be in the grip of severe cold wave conditions with the temperature plunging to sub-zero at Kanpur even as three people were killed after being struck by lightning in the state on Thursday.

With the fog reducing the visibility to near zero, movement of trains and flights was also adversely affected, according to the reports.

While several flights had to be either cancelled or diverted, over 24 trains were delayed as the fog caused immense hardship to the passengers. Thousands of passengers were stranded at railway stations. The bus services have also been affected owing to poor visibility.

Rains lashed the state capital and many other districts in the state on Thursday, adding to the winter chill. The Met officials said that the cloudy weather may continue for a while.
Three people, all brick kiln labourers, were killed after they were struck by lightning in Kanpur district, reports said.

Mercury dipped to minus seven degrees at Kanpur while the state capital recorded its coldest day at three degrees Celsius. Schools up to eighth standard have been closed till January 14, the officials said.