Snowfall in Himachal, J

Chandigarh, Dec 4 (UNI) Fresh snowfall occurred in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir even as the minimum temperature rose appreciably in the north-west plains today.

Several areas in the region experienced cloudy weather with cold winds sweeping during the day. Adampur, Halwara and Chandigarh experienced haze while Hindon reported mist in the morning. The haze and mist disappeared as the day advanced.

Train traffic on the busy Amritsar-Delhi and Jammu-Delhi rail routes was adversely affected due to poor visibility as several long- distance trains were running two to five hours behind the schedule, a report from Jalandhar quoting a railway spokesman said.

Amritsar bound 5707 Katihar-Amritsar Express was delayed by five hours while 8101 Tata Nagar-Jammu Murrie Express was late by four hours. The 3049 Howrah-Amritsar Express and 2919 Indore-Jammu-Malwa Express were running two hours behind the schedule.

Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall while isoalted places in the state experienced rain.

Tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh experienced another spell of snowfall, making the people shiver under intense cold wave in these areas. High moutain peaks in Kullu also received snowfall.

The 13050-foot-high Rohtang Pass, access to Lahaul Spiti district, and mighty Dhauladhar ranges, overlooking the picturesque Kangra valley, experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, intensifying cold conditions in the twin valleys of Kangra and Kullu.

Lower areas in the state, including Manali, Palampur, Dharamsala had rain.

People in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region continue to shiver under severe cold following a heavy snowfall. The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced about one to three feet fresh snowfall, since yesterday, while the summer capital, Srinagar, too had seasons first snowfall disrupting normal life, a report from Srinagar said.

A number of roads to far-flung and remote areas in the valley have been closed due to snowfall. Authorities have decided to allow only one-way traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway in the wake of snowfall and landslides.

Meanwhile, the state administration has decided to close all schools from December 6 instead of 15 in the Kashmir valley because of cold, the report said.

The minimum temperature stayed "markedly" above normal in Haryana and Punjab in the wake of cloudy weather.

Hissar in Haryana recorded 15.0 degrees celsius, eight degrees above normal, while Ambala registered 11.5 degrees. Karnal recorded 12.3 degrees, two degrees above normal.

The mercury rose in Punjab with the minimum temperature hovering 10.8 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, at Amritsar. The holy city had a brief spell of rain overnight.

The minimum temperature also stayed five degrees above normal at Patiala, recording 13.1 degrees, and three degrees above normal at Ludhiana, registering 11.3 degrees Celsius.

Shimla and Bhuntar in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh also reported above normal temperatures. Shimla recorded 7.9 degrees, three degrees above normal, and Bhuntar showed 7.4, five degrees up.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas experienced cloudy weather and it drizzled during the day with cold winds sweeping the region. The city recorded 11.0 degrees, Celsius three degrees above normal.

The meteorological department has predcited moderate to rather heavy rain or snow in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at most places in Punjab and many palces in Haryana during the next 24 hours.

UNI VKJ VN SI BD1946