Intense cold wave sweeping Uttar Pradesh claimed 25 lives overnight taking the total number of cold related deaths in the state to 190 so far.

Icy winds and thick fog swept Allahabad where 10 people succumbed to cold since Friday.

Although the minimum temperature rose marginally to 6.4 degrees Celsius in the region, the met office said there would be no let up in the cold wave conditions in the coming days.

Varanasi remained coldest in the state with the mercury plummeting to four degrees although no deaths were reported from the region.

Four deaths were reported each from Jaunpur and Fatehpur, three in Pratapgarh, one each in Ghazipur, Basti, Sidharthnaga and Etawah, official sources said.

There was a little improvement in the weather in other parts of the state but the weathermen predicted ground frost at many places in the plains.

The day temperature was recorded at 16 degrees in lucknow, which was six degrees below normal, met office sources said. Dry weather with mist was likely in the region till tomorrow evening, they added.