Downpour in Shimla and Solan districts

Shimla, Jun 20 (UNI) Heavy rains lashed Shimla and its adjoining areas and Solan district of Himachal Pradesh today even as temperatures continued to remain seven to 12 degrees below normal after receiving snowfall in the high altitude areas for the last four days.

The day and night temperatures in the tribal districts continued to remain low with Petsio in Lahaul-Spiti recording zero degree.

Kalpa in Kinnuar district and Solang Nullah in Kullu district recorded night temperatures of 4.6 and 6.5 degree Celsius respectively, while Bhang Manali in Kullu district was cold at 7.5 degrees.

Higher altitude areas of Pangi and Bharmaur of Chamab district were engulfed in dense fog and official sources said it was not clear whether the area was receiving any fresh snowfall, while a drizzle was reported from the lower areas.

Pangi subdivision of the district continued to remain cut off from the rest of the country for the seventh day today due to the closure of the Saach Pass after receiving heavy snowfall for the five consecutive days.

The supply essential commodities to the division were being maintained by the 650 km long road that passes through Rohtang Pass, Udaipur, Purthi, Shore before reaching Killar, while the distance, if the Saach Pass is open, between Chamba and Pangi was only 170 kms.

The water discharge in the Satluj and other rivers of the state had also come down due to a slowdown in the melting of glaciers after the day and night temperatures dipped following snowfall in the tribal areas, affecting power generation in the hydel projects on the rivers.

The sky was clear over Shimla and its adjoining areas in the morning before being covered by clouds during the latter half of the day.

The minimum temperature recorded in the state capital touched a low of 12.5 degrees, which was four to five degrees below normal, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded a low of 14.1 and 11.2 degrees respectively.

The minimum temperature recorded at the famous tourist resort of Mashobra, near here, was 11.9 degrees, which was four to five degrees below normal Petsio in Lahaul-Spiti had also recorded six mm of rain till 0830 hrs.

UNI AS DP SK VV1946