New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) The Delhi government will replace all night shelters being run under tents by portacabins within four days to shield thousands of homeless from the intense cold which has gripped entire north India.

"The night shelters are being run under tents which hardly protect people from cold. We will build portacabins in place of them," said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

He also said that the government will also build portacabins at the locations occupied by homeless people, who now refuse to budge from there.

It was decided that portacabins will be built at such places where people sleep in the open, he said.

Kejriwal said the government has asked all the sub-divisional magistrates to visit the night shelters in their respective areas and find out those places where a crowd of people sleeps in the open.

"They have to report by Jan 4," he added.

"It is the first responsibility of any government to protect the lowest strata of the society," he added.

The national capital has around one lakh homeless and 150 night shelters run by the government.