Snow in higher reaches of HP

Shimla, Feb 23 (UNI) The higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh received a fresh spell of snow, while the famous tourist resort of Manali was lashed by light showers last night, even as the warm and dry spell continued in mid and lower hills of the state.

Keylong, district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, recorded 15 cms of snow last night, taking the total snowfall recorded in the district during the winters to 225 cms this year with the minimum temperature being recorded at minus four degrees.

However, the maximum temperature soared to 16 degrees with sun shining brightly over the district today before the clouds covered the sky, bringing a drop in the day temperatures by a few degrees.

An official spokesman said the mild snowfall received last night had melted away by noon today and light vehicles were plying normally in the district.

He said the Border Road Organisation (BRO) was gearing up to clear the 13,050-foot high Rohtang Pass, adding that the road would be thrown open for public by May if the area received no more snowfall.

''BRO officials would start clearing the Pass from February 26.'' The spokesman also enumerated the challenging journey of a villager from Manali to Keylong. The distance between the two places by road was 120 km, while it was around 70 km by small road over the hills.

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