The cold wave sweeping Uttar Pradesh has claimed the lives of eight persons since Monday, taking the toll in the state to ten, official sources said.

While five deaths were reported from Jaunpur, two were reported from Mathura, and one each from Lucknow, Deoria and Barabanki.

With rain and thundershowers in some parts of the state, the mercury has plummeted drastically in many parts of the state.

In Lucknow, the day temperature dropped to 21.2 degrees Celsius, five degrees Celsius below normal.

The meteorological department has predicted cloudy skies with the possibility of rain or thunder showers in some parts of the state on Wednesday.