Cold wave death toll touches 205

After a brief respite, the bitter cold resurfaced on Monday in the plains of north India, with mercury dipping sharply at many places even as frigid weather maintained its firm grip in Himachal Pradesh, where the upper hills received heavy snowfall.

One person froze to death overnight in Uttar Pradesh, which is the worst-hit, pushing the country-wide death toll this winter to 205 and the state-wide count to 165.

Minimum temperatures hovered between four and seven degrees at many places in Uttar Pradesh, as chilly winds swept the state confining people indoors.

Choppers rescued six people stranded in snow-bound Tingrit in Himachal Pradesh as 30 to 50 cms of snow accumulated in tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi.

Freezing cold wave conditions persisted in the upper hills with the minimum temperature hovering betweeen minus 12 and minus 28 degrees celsius.

An avalanche threat hung large in tribal valleys, as thick ground frost at several places hindered movement of vehicles on Monday morning.