New Delhi: On average, 810 people died every year of exposure to the cold during the decade 2013-2022, according to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and as first reported by the Business Standard.In the decade in question, 2015 saw the highest number of deaths due to this cause at 1,149 and 2021 the lowest at 618.The crime data repository files such deaths under the category ‘accidental deaths due to forces of nature’.In 2022, 720 people died due to exposure to the cold, the NCRB’s ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2022’ report said. The states where the most people died of this cause in 2022 are Uttar Pradesh (192), Punjab (123) and Jharkhand (117).The Union statistics ministry’s latest environment statistics report says that in 2022, the average number of cold wave days in each of the 24 states and Union territories of the country that were listed added up to 57.Haryana reported the highest number of such days in 2022 at nine, followed by Madhya Pradesh (seven) and Chhattisgarh and Telangana (six each).In the decade 2013-2022, 2019 recorded the highest number of such days across the 24 states and Union territories at 103, the Business Standard reported.It also calculated that in this decade, the region comprising Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recorded the highest number of cold wave days at 85, followed by Haryana (79), Bihar (61) and Uttar Pradesh (56).Delhi recorded 51 cold wave days in this time period.According to the India Meteorological Department, cold waves occur when temperatures either go below a certain threshold or if they experience significant decreases compared to regular temperatures. These limits vary across regions.Its weather briefing on Thursday (January 25) said that dense fog, cold day and cold wave conditions would continue in northern India for the next two days.The minimum temperature at Delhi’s Lodhi Road weather observatory dipped to 3.1 °C on the morning of January 16, India Today reported.Dense fog over northern India this winter has resulted in the delay, diversion or cancellation of flights and trains.