Two die of cold in Panchkula

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Panchkula, January 21

The local police reported two deaths of senior citizens, found without any warm covers in the Mansa Devi Complex area on Thursday when the maximum temperature remained seven degrees below normal.

The police said there was a distinct possibility that both deaths were due to the intense cold wave experienced over the past few days.

The identification of both deceased is not known yet, the police said, adding that their bodies had been kept at the mortuary of the Civil Hospital in Sector 6.

According to a police

official, they seemed to have died due to being out in the cold.

Another middle-aged man was found unconscious at Majri Chowk on January 16. The Sector 7 police station team had shifted him to the Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead.

The police said he also had no cover on him, adding that his DNA samples were taken for the purpose of identification.

Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to set up 10 additional night shelters to save the homeless from the biting cold.

According to senior officials, these night shelters can accommodate up to 150 people at a time.

Recently, Deputy Commissioner Mahavir Kaushik had a meeting with MC officials to review the arrangements in night shelters across the district.

During the meeting, Kaushik had asked the police to make sure that those sleeping in the open were shifted to the nearest night shelter by the administration.