31 die in cold spell in India's Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: At least 31 people have died due to a cold spell in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over the past two days, a news report said Tuesday.
Eight people died in eastern Uttar Pradesh while 23 died in the western part of the state where the temperatures were lower, IANS news agency reported.
Minimum temperatures in western Uttar Pradesh towns ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 degrees Celsius.
All schools in the state have been closed until December 28.
Dense fog delayed over 150 trains passing through the region.
Deaths in cold spells in India occur because many people are inadequately clothed, spend nights in the open and homes are not heated or insulated.
The meteorological department has forecast that cold wave conditions and dense fog would continue in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of northern and central India over the next three days. – dpa