Patna: There was no let up in the overall cold wave condition in Bihar on January 8 with the temperature further dipping to 8.1 degree Celsius as the death toll in the current spell mounted to 23.

Official sources said 12 more deaths were reported from East Champaran, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Patna, Aurangabad and Kaimur districts during the past 48 hours taking the toll to 23.

While Madhepura alone accounted for five deaths, three persons each died in Aurangabad, Darbhanga and Vaishali, two each in Saharsa, Madhubani and Kaimur while a single death was reported from Patna so far.

Unofficial sources, however, put the death toll in three digits.

Met sources said the prevailing weather conditions, caused by Western climatic disturbances from Kashmir to the Eastern and North Eastern parts of the country, was likely to continue for the next 24 hours.

State relief and rehabilitation commissioner Navin Verma had already asked all the district magistrates to investigate the deaths caused by the cold wave and take preventive measures.

PTI