Srinagar, Jan 8 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday expressed surprise at the Uttar Pradesh legislators' decision to go on a study visit to European countries during the harsh winter season.

Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle Wednesday: "Clearly no one told the UP (Uttar Pradesh) legislators that you don't head to countries like UK, Turkey and Greece for a junket in winter, only in summer."

Earlier, he criticised the Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary A.K. Gupta for his remark on children deaths in Muzaffarnagar relief camp. Gupta had said nobody dies of cold and if they did, how could people be living in Siberia.

Seveteen UP legislators have left on a study tour to exotic locations in Europe. Some of them told media the study tour is necessary and praised Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the initiative.

People in Europe and America are currently reeling under severe cold conditions and are experiencing the coldest winter in two decades.