Patna, Dec 27 (IANS): The prevailing intense cold wave has claimed 11 more lives in Bihar, taking the total number of deaths in the state due to inclement weather to 18, an official said Thursday.

"The inclement weather claimed 11 more lives within a span of 24 hours, taking the death toll to 18 in the state," an official of the state disaster management department here said.

The official added that five people died in Saran district, three in Nawada and one each in Vaishali, Begusarai and Jehanabad districts.

Earlier, the cold wave had claimed four lives in Muzaffarpur district and one each in Gaya, Patna and Chapra.

A.K. Sen, a Met department official here, said the chilling north-westerly winds were sweeping through the state. "The icy winds will continue to blow over the state for another 48 hours," Sen said.

Thursday's minimum temperature in Bihar was recorded in Gaya district at 4.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season's average, while the minimum temperature in the state capital Patna was eight degrees Celsius, Sen said.

Air and rail services were also facing disruption due to the thick fog across the state with several flights delayed and long-distance trains running late.