Patna:
With seven more deaths due to the cold wave in Bihar, the toll has reached 21 with the state witnessing sweeping icy winds during the past five days, officials said on Wednesday.
While two deaths have been reported from Gaya and one from Darbhanga, two persons each have died in Araria and Kishanganj during the past 24 hours, they said.
Earlier, three persons each died in Patna, Kaimur and Kishanganj districts, two in Sheikhpura and one each in Purnia, Gaya and Darbhanga districts.
"High speed cold winds are still coming to the state directly from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir," Met office Director, S I Lashkar said.
Several parts of the state, particularly north Bihar districts, have been suffering from chilly conditions with the temperature dipping further in Patna, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Purnia, Lashkar said.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered closure of schools till January 7 because of the cold conditions.
State disaster management authorities have arranged bonfires as temporary relief to people in different parts of the state.
According to MET office, the minimum temperature in Patna dropped to 6.8 degree Celsius from Tuesday's 11.5 degree Celsius, while Gaya registered minimum temperature of 5.9 degree Celsius against Tuesday's 9.3 degree Celsius.
Similarly, Purnia recorded minimum temperature of 6.8 degree Celsius against yesterday's 8.3 degree Celsius and Bhagalpur 9.4 degree Celsius against Tuesday's 11.8 degree Celsius.