Patna, Jan 8 - The Bihar government Friday announced extending closure of all public and private schools till Jan 10 owing to intense cold wave conditions in the state that have claimed 25 lives so far.

"The state government has ordered to close all schools till Sunday to provide relief to children from the cold," officials said here.

The schools were closed till Jan 7 for Christmas holidays and were scheduled to reopen on Jan 8. They will now reopen on Jan 11.

Intense cold has claimed at least 25 lives in Bihar in the past one week, throwing normal life out of gear.

Dense fog disrupted air and rail services with several flights and long-distance trains running late.

The disaster management department has been directed to arrange bonfires for the poor.

According to the meteorological department, Gaya district recorded a low of 3.9 degrees Celsius while Patna registered a temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius Friday morning.

Met official S. I. Lashkar said drastic drop in temperature was mainly due to westerly winds. Temperatures would remain low for the next two days, he added. (IANS)