Higher reaches in HP experience snowfall

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced snowfall while parts of Haryana received rains during the past 24 hours, breaking a dry spell in the region.

High velocity winds swept Chandigarh and its adjoining areas today, rattling window panes. The sky remained partially overcast as the sun played hide and seek during the day.

A mild snowfall lashed the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh, bringing a sharp fall in the mercury and creating cold wave conditions in the tribal belt. The 13050-foot high Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul Spiti district, also had snowfall.

Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by rain and cold surface winds blew across the town, forcing tourists to stay indoors. Tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda reeled under cold weather conditions.

The minimum tempeatures kept low in Haryana and Punjab but stayed above normal. Certain areas in Haryana, including Rohtak, were lashed by rain. Rohtak recorded 1.6 mm rain till this morning while Hissar and Karnal reported trace.

Delhi, where the minimum temerature dipped to 21.7 degrees, also experienced rainfall, measuring 1.2 mm till 0830 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersqualls with the windspeed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours, according to the the Met Office here.

It predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in Haryana and Punjab during the period.

UNI VKJ VN BDP RN1828