Two people feared killed due to avalanche in Himachal Pradesh

Chandigarh, Jan 18 (UNI) Two people were feared killed in an avalanche as high altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh experienced moderate to heavy snowfall while lower hills in the state and certain areas in Punjab and Haryana had rain during the past 24 hours.

The victims, identified as Napalese labourers, were buried under the avalanche when they were sleeping in their tent at Allain Dhugan hydel project area at Prini, near Manali, in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh on Monday last, a delayed police report from Shimla said today. Another person was injured in the mishap.

Another report said five police posts were wiped off due to avalanches in Chamba district. However, no loss of life has been reported.

The mercury appreciably rose with cloudy weather persisting in most of the areas in the region.

A dense fog enveloped certain areas, reducing visibility to nil at Sirsa and Suratgarh and upto 500 metres at Sarsawa while Chandigarh, Bhatinda and Hindon reported mist.

Moderate to heavy rain or snow is expected in Himachal Pradesh while light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours, according to the Met office here.

It predicted hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour at isolated places in the region during the period.

Tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall. The entire tribal belt reeled under intense cold wave conditions.

Dhundi recorded 148 cm snow, Solang Nala 86 cm, Patsio 33 cm, Bhang-Manali 31 cm and Kalpa 12 cm snowfall since last night.

The 13050-foot Rohtang Pass, access to Lahaul Spiti district, and other high mountain passes received another spell of heavy snowfall.

Mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, including Bhuntar, Dharamsala and Sundernagar, experienced rain. Shimla measured 9.0 mm rain till this morning, bringing a fall in the night temperature in the capital town.

The night temperatures further rose in Punjab and Haryana as most places in the twin states experienced cloudy weather overnight.

Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were lashed by rain. The minimum stood at 6.8 degrees, 10.7 degrees and 11.4 degrees celsius at respective places.

In Haryana, the night temperatures hovered four degrees to six degrees above normal with Ambala, Narnaul, Karnal and Hissar respectively rcording 11.0 degrees, 9.3 degrees, 11.4 degrees and 11.0 degrees celsius.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were lashed by intermittent rain since last night even as dark clouds hung over the city, turning the weather freakish. However, the city recorded a rise in the minimum temperature to 12.0 degrees from 11.0 degrees registered yesterday.

UNI VKJ MMS2003