The latest deaths pushed the national cold death toll to 181, according to figures compiled by police and officials across northern India.

The worst affected area was Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous and one of its poorest states, where the death toll stood at 145, police spokesman Amrish Mehrotra told AFP in the provincial capital Lucknow.

"Most of the victims were the poor and homeless people," Mehrotra said.

An official said the Uttar Pradesh government had formally appealed to voluntary and aid workers to help in the distribution of blankets and warm clothes to the poor and needy.

The other 36 victims were from the states of Punjab, Bihar and West Bengal, where hundreds are in hospital with cold-related ailments.

Elsewhere in India winter eased its icy grip Thursday but Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir recorded minus 5.2 degrees C (22.64 degrees . Its famous Dal Lake was frozen solid for the eighth day Thursday.

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