People shiver in cold following snowfall in HP

Chandigarh, Jan 16 (UNI) People in northwest India shivered under cold conditions following another spell of snowfall and rain in Himachal Pradesh and overcast sky in the plains today.

Cold surface winds blew across the region as the Sun remained drapped in clouds, dipping the minimum temperatures at most places in the region.

Piercing cold wave swept Himachal Pradesh following moderate snowfall in higher reaches and rain in the mid and lower areas of the state.

Tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district had a moderate snowfall, plumetting the temperature.

The 13050-foot high Rohtang Pass, access to Lahaul Spiti district, and Dhauladhar mountain ranges, overlooking the picturesque Kangra valley, experienced heavy snowfall, intensifying cold wave in Kullu and Kangra valleys.

The tribal belt reeled under freezing cold wave with the temperatures hovering below zero degrees. Many natural water sources and lakes have already frozen in the tribal areas due to intense cold.

Keylong, headquarters of the tribal Lahaul Spiti district, had recorded about seven to eight cm fresh snow upto 0830 hrs. Kalpa in Kinnuar district recorded about five cm of fresh snowfall.

The 320 km Hindustan-Tibet road was closed beyond Rekong Peo, headquarters of Kinnaur district in the wake of snowfall.

Rain lashed the famous tourist resorts of Manali in Kullu district, Narkanda and Kufri in Shimla district and Dalhousie in Chamba district, bringing a considerable fall in the temperatures and forcing tourists and locals to remain indoors.

The capital town of Shimla also experienced showers. The minimum temperature dipped to 6.0 degrees at Shimla. The minimum, however, rose to 5.6 and 4.8 degrees Celsius at Sunderngar and Bhuntar respectively.

Most areas in Punjab and Haryana experienced cloudy weather during the day.

In Punjab, the minimum temperatures fell at Amritsar but stayed above normal at Ludhiana and Patiala. Amritsar recorded the minimum temperature at 3.2 degrees, one degree below normal, while Ludhiana showed 9.6 degrees and Patiala 7.9 degrees celsius.

In Haryana, the minimum temperature slightly plummeted at Ambala and Karnal, respectively recording 7.2 degrees and 7.8 degrees celsius. However, the mercury remained static at 8.0 degrees at Narnaul while it rose to 10.8 degrees, five degrees above normal, at Hissar.

Dark clouds hung over Chandigarh and its adjoining areas even as chilly winds swept the city during the day. The minimum temperature slightly dropped in the city recording 9.0 degrees.

The Weather Office has predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in Punjab and few places in Haryana and Chandigarh during the next 48 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

UNI VKJ BDP RK1802