Patna, Jan. 5: The state is under the grip of cold wave. Four districts in the state have been identified to have been badly hit.

Gaya, Sabour, Dehri-on-Sone and Chhapra — are shivering in the prevailing circumstances. The minimum temperature at these places has gone down 5°C below normal. In some cases the dip is even more.

Gaya was the coldest place in Bihar today with a minimum temperature of 4.3°C, followed by Sabour (4.5°C), Dehri-on-Sone (4.6°C) and Chhapra (5.1°C).

This does not mean that other places are not feeling the brunt after the dip in temperature. The minimum temperatures are enough to make life difficult for the residents.

The minimum temperature of Patna and Motihari are cases in point. Both these places recorded a minimum of 6°C today.

If the low temperature levels are not enough, northwesterly winds are blowing, adding to the bite of the cold. Today at most of the places, these winds were blowing at the speed of over 9km per hour.

Even the day temperature remained below normal, as the sun is not shining brightly due to the presence of mist in the air.

Patna recorded a maximum of 17.8°C today, which was five degrees below normal. Gaya recorded a maximum of 18.1°C, which was well below the normal.

“The weather condition is likely to remain the same over the next 24 hours and there would be no respite from the cold during the period,” assistant meteorologist of Patna Meteorological office A.B. Gupta told The Telegraph.

He said the cold wave conditions would continue to prevail at several places in the state.

Keeping in mind the prevailing cold conditions, the state disaster management department has asked the district magistrates to send their requirements for funds to be used for bonfires.

The department had earlier released over Rs 22 lakh for this purpose and while districts, which are also divisional headquarters, were given Rs 75,000 each. Districts other than Arwal and Jehanabad were given Rs 50,000 each, while they received Rs 25000. Patna was given a fund of Rs 1.25 lakh for this purpose.

According to reports reaching the disaster management department headquarters, arrangements for bonfire had been made at 200 places in 16 districts. Directives have been issued for submission of reports by other districts as well.

Gopalganj district is the only one that has so far sought more funds for bonfires.

No cases of death have been reported from any part of the state so far, a source in the disaster management department said.