Teachers burn school books to stay warm

Patna: Authorities in the Indian state of Bihar said a group of teachers used books meant for poor children in the Gaya district to make a bonfire as a bitter spell of cold weather swept through northern and eastern India.

"They [the teachers] burned more than 500 textbooks packed in two gunny bags to get warm," said Hansnath Singh, a senior police officer.

Dense fog in most parts of India has already affected train and flight services, and homeless people can be seen huddling around bonfires after nightfall in the capital, New Delhi, and other cities.