A thick layer of fog marred visibility till late afternoon, adversely affecting rail and road traffic and leaving passengers stranded at bus and railway stations.

While six people lost their lives in Balrampur, two each died in Fatehpur and Basti and one each in Gonda and Shravasti.

The minimum temperature today was recorded at 4.2 degrees Celsius in Gorakhpur while Lucknow recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees, Met officials said.

The cold wave is likely to continue for another couple of days, officials said.

The state Government has directed the respective district magistrates to ensure arrangement of bonfires and set up temporary shelters to protect people from the chilly winds.