A severe cold wave in north India on Tuesday left people shivering and claimed eight lives in Allahabad even as Leh town in Jammu and Kashmir froze at minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The mercury dipped below three degrees Celsius, the first time in seven years in Allahabad, leaving eight people dead due to cold in the district with the trans-Ganga region accounting for five deaths. Railway traffic was also hit due to fog with certain trains like the Prayagraj Express, Sangam Express and Reeva Express running three to four hours behind schedule, railway sources said.