Winter woes were compounded in north India as mercury dipping further in the region today and resulting in the death of 12 more people.

Uttar Pradesh accounted for the 12 deaths, three in Barabanki, seven in Pratapgarh and one each in Jaunpur and Deoria. Officials said, the death toll in the state now stands at 47. With a minimum temperature of 2.6 degree Celcius, Churk was the coldest place in Uttar Pradesh.

The national capital also remained under the grip of a cold wave with the mercury dropping to 4.2 degree Celcius, three degrees below normal. The Delhi government today ordered closure of all schools in the capital till January 10.

The cold wave intensified further in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, as the minimum temperature across the state dipped several degrees further, with Leh town freezing at minus 23 degree Celcius.

Several places in Punjab and Haryana were under a thick fog cover that hit movement of flights to and from Chandigarh and affected vehicular traffic and trains in large parts of the two states.

Chandigarh recorded its coldest day ever today, making it colder than Srinagar and Shimla. The minimum recorded at Chandigarh was 5 deg C. Severe cold waves continued to sweep Rajasthan while thick fog engulfed the region following which several flights were delayed. Mount Abu recorded a night temperature of minus 4 degree Celcius.