Patna: The biting cold has forced the government to extend closure of all public and private schools here till January 20, an official said on Monday. The intense cold has so far claimed at least 50 lives in the state.

Schools in other districts would also continue to be closed, authorities said.

Patna district magistrate Jitendra Prasad ordered the closure of all schools till January 20. They will now reopen on January 21.

The schools were closed till January 3 for Christmas holidays and were scheduled to reopen on January 4. But the cold wave has forced the Bihar government to extend the closure of schools three times in the past two weeks.

The intense cold, which has claimed at least 50 lives in Bihar in the past two weeks, has thrown normal life out of gear.

Dense fog disrupted air and rail services with several flights and long-distance trains running late.

The disaster management department has been directed to arrange bonfires for the poor.

According to the meteorological department, Gaya district recorded a low of 7.2 degrees Celsius while Patna registered 10.3 degrees Celsius on Monday morning. IANS