At least 22 died overnight as temperatures of three degrees CelsiusFarenheit) swept the northern Indian plains of Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday night, the news agency said.

"There will be no let up in the conditions on Friday. Fog and mist are likely to increase," officials warned, noting that day temperatures were 10 degrees Celsius below normal in most parts of Uttar Pradesh where Wednesday's deaths took the toll to 117.

At least 20 people have been crushed to death on northern Indian highways where the fog has caused scores of accidents.

The cold wave in the past two weeks has also claimed 36 lives in adjoining Bihar province, according to police and press reports.

Six more mostly elderly and homeless people died in central India's Madhya Pradesh, prompting the provincial government to take emergency measures to provide shelter to the homeless and medicine for people suffering from cold-related ailments.

The winter takes a heavy toll each year in South Asia, where homes are more suited to handle the equally deadly summers when temperatures shoot up to 49 degrees Celcius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).

Last winter's cold spell killed almost 1,400 people.

TERRA.WIRE