Mercury rises, but state reeling under cold wave

Shimla, Jan 28 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh continues to be in the grip of a cold wave despite a marginal increase in the minimum temperatures across the state even though higher altitude areas of the state experienced mild intermittent early today.

Overcast conditions are prevailing in all the mid and lower hills of the state, while the tribal districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu recorded mild intermittent snowfall early today.

Shimla town and other adjoining areas were under a thick layer of clouds throughout the day today after a bright sunny day yesterday.

The met office said Kalpa in Kinnuar district recorded a slight increase in the night temperatures at minus 9.8 degrees Celsius as compared to minus 12.6 degree Celsius recorded yesterday.

The minimum temperature at Shimla town rose to zero degree Celsius from yesterday's low of minus 2.6 degrees, while it recorded a high of 6.7 degrees, it said.

Sundernagar recorded a night temperature of 2.6 degrees and Bhuntar 3.2 degrees, it said, adding that a marginal rise had been recorded in the night temperature in both theses places.

In the lower reaches, Una was the coldest at 0.5 degrees.

However, overcast conditions across the state led to plunge in the temperatures this afternoon.

Shimle Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told UNI that the north westerly winds blowing across the state were responsible for the biting coldwave in the state.

These winds were also expected to bring mild snowfall at several places in the state followed by extreme coldwave conditions in the state, he said.

Mr Singh said night temperatures were likely to rise in the state after the western disturbance, which was at present laying over the adjoining state of Jammu and Kashmir, reached Himachal by February two or three.

The met office has forecast mild snow and rain at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hrs.

UNI XC AS HS VN1853