The cold wave has intensified in the northern region and claimed at least eight lives during the past 24 hours. The night temperature was hovering around minus 23.6 degree Celsius in Leh town in Ladakh region and Kargil town also had an extremely cold night with a minimum temperature of minus 18.2 degree Celsius.The cold wave also intensified in Gulmarg in north Kashmir and Pahalgam in south Kashmir. Cold wave continued to sweep Uttarakhand with night temperature falling below zero degrees Celsius at many places during last 24 hours.Uttar Pradesh witnessed sharp decline in temperature. The hills in Himachal Pradesh had no respite from the biting cold as night temperatures continued to drop there.The day-time chill further intensified across Punjab and Haryana even though the minimum temperature settled a few notches above normal.The Rajasthan Government has closed all schools till 8th of this month due to cold wave. However, exams will continue as usual. Mount Abu was the coldest place in the state with minimum temperature of minus 5.4 degree Celsius.