Chilly and foggy R-Day, five more deaths due to the cold

It was a chilly and foggy Republic Day in the northern region today as the death of five more persons due to the cold took the total toll this winter to 550.

All the fresh deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh where two persons died in Ghazipur and one death each was reported from Bhadoi, Basti and Auraiya.

Fog at many places played spoilsport at the Republic Day celebrations and in the national capital, the weather conditions led to the cancellation of a flypast by four Mi-17 helicopters which were to shower flowers on spectators.

Visibility on the Rajpath was reduced to near zero level.

Strong winds also added to the chill and the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.4 degree celsius as against yesterday's 10.3 degrees.

In Punjab and Haryana, minimum temperatures fell by up to six degrees below normal and several parts of the region remained enveloped in dense fog affecting rail and road traffic.

Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Ambala, Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal and Bhiwani were engulfed by dense fog with visibility ranging from zero to around 1,000 metres, the Met office said.