New Delhi, Dec 28 : People across India face the wrath of dipping mercury, as the cold wave further intensified in several parts of the country. The death toll has reached to 40 due to cold in north and east India.

The Meteorology Department has predicted a slight improvement in the weather condition on Friday, with officials predicting a clear sky and light mist in the morning, cold winds are expected to sweep parts of the region.

Although not cold by the standards of Europe and North America, the drop in temperature can had a devastating effect on the hundreds of thousands of homeless people in India.

In Uttar Pradesh, the cold wave it has claimed 30 lives. Agra remained the coldest place during with the minimum temperature dipping to 2.6 degree Celsius.

The maximum temperatures remained below normal by 8 to 10 degrees celsius in many parts of the state.

On Thursday, there were about deaths from Bihar.

Jammu and Kashmir is also in the grip of a severe cold wave. Higher reaches in the state are experiencing snowfall since last evening.

Intense cold wave swept most parts of Punjab and Haryana with winds and foggy weather disrupting normal life in the two states.

Rajasthan is also in the grip of a severe cold wave with Churu being the coldest place. (ANI)