Wintry conditions prevail in HP

Shimla, Mar 13 (UNI) Wintry conditions in Himachal Pradesh continued unabated for the fifth day today with high altitude areas of Pangi Valley in Chamba district and the Dhualadhar Ranges in Kangra district receiving snow, while lower areas and other mid and lower hills received rain during last 24 hrs.

The high altitude tribal areas and other higher hills of the state were shivering under piercing cold wave conditions with temperatures dipping to minus 10 to minus 18 degrees, with Petsio in Lahaul-Spiti recording a low of minus 15 degrees.

Snow clouds were hovering over Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnuar, Kullu and Kangra districts of the state but there was no report of any rain or snow from these areas during the last 24 hrs and official sources said the districts had a clear sky this morning before cloud cover appeared.

A report from Chamba district said, higher reaches of Pangi Valley were receiving intermittent snow, while lower areas and Bharmaour area were lashed by rain and hailstorm.

Shimla and its adjoining areas were lashed by rain and hailstorm since afternoon and the Met office recorded 31 mm rainfall till 1730 hrs.

Reports of hailstorm and rain were also received from Palampur in Kangra district of the state.

The minimum temperature of the town jumped to 6.5 degrees from yesterday's 5.3 degrees, while the day's minimum temperature was 4.7 degrees.

Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded a high of 22.9 and 22.2 degrees and a low of 10.5 and 9.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

The Met Office has predicted rain and snow at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hrs.

UNI AS HS ARB RK1825