New Delhi: Mercury continued to slid at Northern, Central And Eastern regions as cold wave tightened its grip claiming 40 more lives, pushing the death toll to 693.

The worst-hit Uttar Pradesh accounted for 476 deaths with 40 more succumbing to chill weather and Bihar 100.

Kanpur groaned as mercury plummeted to minus 0.5 degrees celsius with dense fog affecting vehicular and train.

The minimum temperature touched one degree celsius in Allahabad, where icy winds and dense fog forced people to stay indoors.

Churu and Sikar in Rajasthan were the coldest place in the desert state, as mercury dipped to one degree celsius, followed by Pilani and Bikaner with two degrees celsius.

Jaipur and adjoining areas had some relief as temperature increased to six degrees celsius.

Mercury slid to two degrees celsius in Amristar and Hisar.

People in most parts of Kashmir Valley received no respite from cold as mercury dropped minus 2.5 degrees celsius, while Jammu recorded a low of 3.3 degrees celsius.

Bhuntar and Sundernagar in Himachal groaned under piercing cold, as both the towns recorded 0.5 and 0.4 degrees celsius respectively.

Mercury plummeted to 4.6 degrees celsius at Ludhiana, while Patiala shivered at 4.8 degrees celsius.

Delhi reeled under intense cold with mercury plummeting to four degrees celsius, even as dark clouds and fog engulfed the national capital throwing normal life out of gear.

Dark clouds and dense fog resulted in poor visibility throwing air traffic in and out of national capital out of gear, as visibility was reduced to 200 metres.

Some trains coming to Delhi were delayed by hours, forcing the authorities either to reschedule or cancel some of the trains going out of the national capital.

There was no let up in severe cold wave conditions in Bihar, as mercury dipped further in many places throwing normal life out of gear.

Motihari, district headquarters of East Champaran with zero degree celsius was the coldest place in the state.

Gaya recorded a minimum of 2.4 degrees celsius, while in Bhagalpur it dipped to 4.4 degrees celsius.

Thick fog and poor visibility led to rescheduling of flights and a majority of trains were running behind schedule, airport and Railway sources said.

Hundred people have lost their lives so far during the current spell of cold in Bihar.

PTI