“The severe cold conditions was due to persistence of cold north-westerly winds over north-west India combined with other favourable meteorological conditions,’’ said M Mohapatra, director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Dpa reports that the low in Delhi was 4.2 degrees Celcius on Thursday night, some 6 degrees below average.
Pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states have been experiencing a cold spell since December 15.
Srinagar in Kashmir recorded its coldest night of the season on Wednesday at 4.3 degrees Celsius, national television Doordarshan reported.
In Ladakh region, known as a cold desert, the town of Drass recorded a low of minus 29 degrees Celsius.
At least 38 people had died in Uttar Pradesh since Tuesday as the cold temperatures hit, IANS news agency reported, but a state Health Department official said it could not be confirmed that these were due to the cold wave.
