Shimla records coldest January night in 15 years

Shimla, Jan 24 (UNI) Shimla recorded the coldest night at minus 4.4 degrees Celsius in 15 years in January, even as the coldwave further tightened its grip over Himachal Pradesh with sub zero temperature being recorded at several places in mid and lower hills of the state.

Sources in the Shimla Meteorological Department told UNI here the state capital had recorded a night temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius 15 years ago, in January, in 1993.

Cold icy winds blowing across the town during the day and frost during the nights was pulling the night temperatures down even as dry weather continued to prevail across the state, the sources said.

The continuing fall in the night temperatures has affected supply of drinking water in the hill state, which recorded sub zero temperatures for the fourth consecutive day today after recording a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees yesterday.

The Met office said the minimum temperatures across the state registered a fall last night with the night temperature at Patseio in Lahaul Spiti plummeting to minus 20 degrees Celsius, minus 14.3 at Keylong, 13.4 at Dhundi and nine degrees Celsius at Solang Nullah.

The night temperature at Bhang Manali in Kullu district declined to minus six degrees as compared to minus 2.5 degrees yesterday, while Una recorded a night temperature of minus four degrees.

It said Sundernagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus two, Bhuntar minus point six, Kalpa minus 11.5, Mandi one, Nahan 4.6 and Palampur minus point three degrees Celsius.

The Sun was shining brightly in Shimla and other adjoining areas since morning, and people were seen basking at the historic 'The Ridge Maidan' and other places of the town.

The sky was also mainly clear in almost all mid and lower hills and lower areas of the state and there was no report of rain and snow in the state during the last 24 hrs.

UNI XC AS PS PY AS1548