The death toll from a cold front sweeping large parts of northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal has risen to nearly one thousand.
Bangladesh has been the hardest hit, with local media reporting more than 540 people have died snce the freezing temperatures began several weeks ago.
Most of the dead were poor people who could not afford heating devices or warm clothing.
Authorities in Bangladesh and India are handing out blankets and lighting public bonfires to keep people warm. Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia toured parts of the capital, Dhaka, Sunday night and distributed warm clothing to homeless people.
Forecasters say the cold weather is likely to continue for several days.