New Delhi: Many parts of India continued to bear the onslaught of bone-chilling cold wave that claimed 31 more lives, raising the death toll this winter to 571 as dense fog once again played havoc with rail, road and air traffic on January 18.

Twentynine people succumbed to severe cold overnight in Uttar Pradesh, bringing the number of fatalities in the state to 381 as authorities shut schools in Meerut district till January 21.

Mercury in Kanpur, which dipped to 0.6 degree celsius on January 17, rose marginally providing some respite to the people as the demand for coal and wood soared in the state, leading to spurt in their prices.

Freezing winds continued to sweep Bihar where Buddhist pilgrimage centre Gaya and Patna recorded lows of 4.3 degrees and 4.9 degrees celsius respectively.

Icy winds coupled with thick fog affected normal life in the state as met office promised no respite from the chilly weather that has claimed 90 lives so far.

Unofficial sources put the death toll in Bihar at 210.

PTI