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Death toll from Europe cold snap nears 300
Many people spent the night in cars as traffic ground to a halt on roads and most flights for destinations in Europe were cancelled as swathes of snow swamped Britain amidst severe warnings by the weather office.
No cancellations were, however, announced for flights to destinations in India. There was some delay in flights departing in the afternoon on Sunday, but most flights to India leave Heathrow at night, by when normal flight conditions are expected to resume.
The Arctic cold snap that has hit Europe for over a week had claimed nearly 300 lives by Sunday, and brought air travel chaos to London and dumped snow as far south as Rome and even North Africa. The grim winter toll rose in Ukraine, Poland, Italy and France, where two homeless people found frozen to death were the latest victims, with authorities across the continent reporting at least 297 fatalities.
In Italy, which reported a seventh victim, snow-covered Rome was virtually paralysed, thousands of people were trapped on trains, and the weather emergency sparked runs on supermarkets. In worst-hit Ukraine, another nine deaths raised the toll to 131 since the deep freeze started nine days ago.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II braved the cold and snow to attend church on Sunday on the eve of her Diamond Jubilee anniversary. Bundled in a brown coat and matching fur hat, Elizabeth was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, at the service at West Newton church on her Sandringham Estate.
Many people spent the night in cars as traffic ground to a halt on roads and most flights for destinations in Europe were cancelled as swathes of snow swamped Britain amidst severe warnings by the weather office.
No cancellations were, however, announced for flights to destinations in India. There was some delay in flights departing in the afternoon on Sunday, but most flights to India leave Heathrow at night, by when normal flight conditions are expected to resume.
The Arctic cold snap that has hit Europe for over a week had claimed nearly 300 lives by Sunday, and brought air travel chaos to London and dumped snow as far south as Rome and even North Africa. The grim winter toll rose in Ukraine, Poland, Italy and France, where two homeless people found frozen to death were the latest victims, with authorities across the continent reporting at least 297 fatalities.
In Italy, which reported a seventh victim, snow-covered Rome was virtually paralysed, thousands of people were trapped on trains, and the weather emergency sparked runs on supermarkets. In worst-hit Ukraine, another nine deaths raised the toll to 131 since the deep freeze started nine days ago.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II braved the cold and snow to attend church on Sunday on the eve of her Diamond Jubilee anniversary. Bundled in a brown coat and matching fur hat, Elizabeth was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, at the service at West Newton church on her Sandringham Estate.
