Winter spell continues in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Jan 14 Traditionally, 'Makar Sankranti' (on January 15) marks the beginning of the end of the winter season but this year, the freezing spell seems to be getting unusually longer.

According to the India Meteorological Department, rainfall is expected in parts of Uttar Pradesh over the next one week and this could lead to a further lowering of temperatures.

The snowfall in the Himalayan ranges has already affected Uttar Pradesh after Bihar that has experienced rain and hail in the past few days.

The Meteorological Department has forecast rain in many parts of the state on Wednesday. Lucknow recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday while Kanpur recorded a minimum temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsius, Varanasi 9.6 degrees, Bahraich 9.8 degrees, Prayagraj 11.6 degrees and Gorakhpur 9.4 degrees Celsius.

This change in weather is continuing due to disturbances near Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. Dense fog is expected to prevail with cold day conditions at many places in UP, including Lucknow, during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, schools in several districts remained open on Tuesday, despite the winter chill. The district officials said that majority of the school authorities had said that prolonged closure would affect completion of syllabus and were unwilling to close the schools though they had agreed to a change in timings.