North India continues to reel under severe cold wave conditions. In Jammu & Kashmir, the fringes of the famous Dal Lake froze as the mercury continued its freefall in Srinagar.  <br />'' <br />'' The city experienced the coldest night of the season at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. The MeT Office said, the minimum temperature across the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh Union Territory stayed several degrees below the freezing point, intensifying the cold wave in some areas in the region.<br />'' <br />'' The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius last night. Pahalgam, in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, was the coldest recorded place in the valley with the night temperature settled at a low of minus 10.4 degrees Celsius.<br />'' <br />'' Leh town, in the Ladakh Union territory, recorded a low of minus 19 degrees Celsius.  The nearby Drass town froze at a low of minus 28.7 degrees Celsius.<br />'' <br />'' The MeT office has forecast rain and snowfall in Kashmir on the New Year's eve which is likely to bring respite from the cold wave conditions in the valley.<br />''  <br />'' In Bihar, cold wave has affected normal life. Our correspondent reports that 16 people have died due to biting cold in several parts of the state including Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and Sitamarhi during last 24 hours. Met department has issued an for intense cold during the next 48 hours.<br />'' <br />'' Gaya was the coldest place in the state at 3.4-degree celsius.<br />'' <br />'' In Rajasthan, Fatehpur in Sikar district recorded the lowest temperature in the state at minus 4-degree celsius. Sikar recorded a minimum of minus 1-degree celsius.<br />'' <br />'' The minimum temperature at many places in Haryana and Punjab were 5 to 7 notches below normal. The minimum temperature at many places in Haryana and Punjab were 5 to 7 notches below normal.<br />'' <br />'' Severe cold wave conditions continued to prevail in the National Capital and its surrounding areas today with the minimum temperature settling at 3.4 degrees Celsius. Yesterday, Delhi had recorded the season's coldest day with the minimum temperature dropping to 2.4 degrees Celsius. Dense fog enveloped the city today reducing visibility to less than 500 metres. Thirteen trains were delayed for up to 6 hours due to fog.<br />'' <br />'' The weatherman has forecast clear sky even as the cold wave is expected to continue for a few more days.<br />'' <br />''  With chilling cold continuing to sweep Delhi-NCR, the region is expected to record its second-coldest December since 1901.<br />''