People in parts of north India had some respite from biting cold on Saturday though the toll rose to 229 with 15 more deaths during the past 24 hours. Official sources said, all the fresh deaths took place in Uttar Pradesh.<br/><br/>While minimum temperature in the national capital rose to 9 deg C, the maximum stood at 12.1 deg C for the second day–the lowest in the last five years.<br/><br/>Fog in many parts of north India forced the railways to reschedule six trains, while over four dozen trains ran late.<br/><br/>Cold conditions worsened in Jammu and Kashmir as mercury further dipped by a few notches in the state.<br/><br/>Pahalgam, a hill resort in south Kashmir, was the coldest place in the state as night temperature dipped to minus 7 deg C. Srinagar reeled under intense cold with the minimum temperature of minus 4.2 deg C. Leh recorded a low of minus 20.6 deg C and Kargil minus 19.4 deg C.<br/><br/>Night temperature in Jammu was 4.7 deg C, while Banihal experienced a low of minus 2.1 deg C.<br/><br/>The night temperature rose marginally in many places in Himachal Pradesh though higher reaches of the hill state remained under sub-zero temperature.<br/><br/>Fog and intense cold conditions disrupted normal life in Rajasthan affecting flights and traffic on the highway.<br/><br/>Cold conditions abated in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, with mercury rising by three to four notches above normal, although dense fog continued to affect normal life in the region.<br/><br/>Most parts of Uttarakhand enjoyed a bright sunny day giving relief to the people from severe cold.<br/><br/>In Bihar, minimum temperature rose further and state capital Patna recorded 6.4 degree Celsius.<br/><br/>In Uttar Pradesh the cold wave and dens fog conditions prevailing in the state has forced the denizens for shivering even during the day. The fog unleashed its fury in the several parts of the state including state capital Lucknow leading to drastic drop in the day temperature. Dry icy winds have made matters worse.<br/><br/>AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that dense blanket of fog threw the life out of gear. Rail, road and air traffic is badly affected in the state. Most of the long rout trains are running very late and railway authorities are forces to reschedule several trains. Churk in Mirzapur district was coldest place in the state during last 24 hours with minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius. While many preferred to stay indoors at offices and homes, the poor on the street was left to fend for himself as government sponsored bonfires were hardly seen anywhere. Most of the hospitals are over crowded with the patients suffering from cold related diseases. The cold was also harsh on elderly and arthritis patients.<br/><br/>Meanwhile death toll has reached to 272 due to the unabated bone-chilling cold conditions as 21 more people lost their lives across the state during last 24 hours. As per reports available four succumbed to cold in Mahoba, three each in Agra, Allahabad, Maharajganj and Jaunpur, while two each died in Mirzapur and Faizabad. One other died in Bareilly district.<br/><br/>At the other hand zoo authorities have put in place special arrangements to save the zoo inmates from onslaught of an unbearable chill in the state capital. Room-heaters and bonfires near and inside enclosures have been offered for the birds and animals at the zoo. Besides, the inmates have been provided with dried straw mats, sacks and blankets to keep them warm.<br/><br/>In Rajasthan, Phalodi was the coldest place, where minimum temperature was recorded 2 degree Celsius while in Mount Abu the temperature was -1 degree Celsius.<br/><br/>North East is in the grip of cold wave. Weathermen say cold wave conditions are likely to deteriorate in the coming days.