City residents not used to prolonged winter spell are experiencing a harrowing time this year as the mercury dropped by 50% in the last 72 hours to 6.5 degree Celsius on Thursday.

Srinagar, Leh town in Ladakh region experienced its coldest night of the season with mercury plunging 21 degrees below freezing point even as cold wave in Kashmir region intensified.

Severe cold claimed the lives of at least seven infants at Malda state hospital in West Bengal on Friday. Sources said all the babies were less than three months old.

Bihar is reeling under severe cold for the past four days forcing normal life grind to a halt. Schools have already been closed till next Sunday.

The chill is spreading its wings in Bihar. Till Thursday, four places were under the grip of the cold wave.

Strong north-westerly winds intensified the cold wave sweeping Bihar with the State capital recording a minimum temperature of 7.7 degrees Celsius on Monday forcing the Patna district administratio

Despite a cold wave hitting some parts of Maharashtra, no major decline in the minimum temperature is expected in Pune, which was witnessing above normal temperatures for the past few weeks.

With Bihar reeling under severe cold conditions, the state human resource development (HRD) department on Tuesday ordered closure of all government schools in the state till January 15.