Eleven cold wave deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh taking the toll to 50 even as the coldest period of the winter (Chilakalan), with minimum temperatures at minus 3.8 degrees, began in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] on Wednesday.

Mahoba and Hardoi districts in UP accounted for three and two deaths each respectively. One casualty was reported from Lucknow, Bulandshahr, Banda, Jalaun, Jhansi and Muzaffarnagar, police said.

The Kashmir valley, while reeling under sub-zero temperatures disrupting normal life, saw the beginning of the 40-day-long 'Chilakalan' with the minimum temperature at minus 3.8 degree, about three degree below normal.

A UNI correspondent, who visited Dal Lake on the first day of the Chilakalan, witnessed parts of the famed lake frozen.

Amritsar [Images] with 1.6 degrees celsius turned out to be the coldest place in Punjab even as the minimum temperature showed a rising trend at most places in the region for the second successive day on Wednesday.

Barring Amritsar and Ludhiana (5.6 degree C), most places in the region recorded a rise of 1.8 degrees to 3 degrees in minimum temperatures, an official spokesman, quoting Meteorological Centre data said, adding that the state capital of Chandigarh recorded 7.6 degree Celsius.

Many long distance trains were still running two to five hours behind schedule on the Delhi-Amritsar and Delhi-Jammu routes, a report from Jalandhar, quoting a Railway spokesman, said.

The deep depression over south west Bay of Bengal, concentrated on 350-km southeast of Chennai on Tueasday night, changed its direction towards north east and moved towards Myanmar, away from Indian Coast, on Wednesday morning.

Cyclone Detection Radar Station (CDRS) Director Y K Reddy told UNI that the system would weaken further.

Under its influence, rain or thundershowers were likely to occur at many places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and at a few places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours.

Rajasthan witnessed an increase in temperatures. However, residents were yet to get respite from the chilly winds surmounting this region of northern India.