Cold wave conditions have begun to grip North India. In Jharkhand, 13 people have lost their lives due to severe cold weather in last 30 hours.

National capital Delhi experienced another chilled morning today with minimum temperate dipping to five degree Celsius.

The cold wave condition intensified in Jammu and Kashmir with the minimum temperature in Srinagar plunging to minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.

In Uttar Pradesh, nine more people died today in cold-related incidents. Several eastern districts are reeling under intense cold wave. Officials said dense fog made movement of road and rail traffic difficult. Agra with minimum 2.5 deg C was the coldest place in the state.

The mercury has dipped by eight degrees in Gorakhpur. North Eastern Railway has cancelled several long-distance trains while several others are running hours behind the schedule due to dense fog. Air and road traffic has also been disrupted.

The district administration in several eastern districts had closed the schools up to 8th standard for today.

With Ladakh region cut off with the closure of Srinagar – Kargil road for winter season, Kargil's Poultry and Animal Development Department has come up with plans to create more jobs for the locals.

New entrepreneurs in the field of Poultry Farming will get financial help and know how. More than 32 private poultry farms have come up in Kargil so far.

Of these, 7 are owned by Self Help Groups. According to a survey last year the poultry farms sold 60,000 birds fetching a business of around ninety lakh rupees.

Government is helping new young unemployed youths in the form of loans with subsidy.

NABARD has announced a scheme called Venture Capital Fund for Poultry and Dairy Sector.