Fresh snowfall in HP, cold wave to intensify in plains

Chandigarh, Dec 27 (UNI) The cold wave intensified in Himachal Pradesh following snowfall in the higher reaches, including the famous tourist resorts of Kufri and Narkanda, while in the plains of Punjab and Haryana, night temperatures continued to remain two to three degrees above normal even as cold winds swept across the two states.

Bright morning sunshine however brought relief to the residents of the capital hill resort of Shimla, and the tourists as well, who had thronged Kufri, Narkanda and Manali after yesterday's snowfall.

The sun also brought relief in the plains of the North West, after a wet day yesterday, following widespread rain, which had brought cheers to the farmers of the wheat belt.

The higher reaches of the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh had another fresh spell of snowfall, resulting in icy cold winds sweeping across the lower and mid hills of the state. The minimum temperature in Kalpa dropped to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, after the town in the tribal belt received 5.9 mm snow.

Snowfall was also reported from the higher reaches of the majestic Dhauladhar ranges resulting in a cold wave gripping the picturesque Kangra valley. Fresh snow also occurred in the Bharmour area of Chamba district, where the Manimahesh lake is reported to have frozen.

The 15,800 feet high Rohtang Pass, also had snowfall resulting in a drastic drop in temperatures in the Manali and Kullu valleys.

The tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti and the Dodrakawar area adjoining Uttranchal also had a fresh spell of snow.

The residents of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, which had reported 2.0 mm rain yesterday, basked in the morning sun. Night temperatures in the city dropped by one degree, to 7.4 degrees.

In Punjab, Amritsar was the coldest place with night temperatures dropping by three degrees, to settle at 5.0 degrees, which was two degrees above normal for the border town. Patiala, which had recorded 2.8 mm rain yesterday, was slightly warm at 9.2 degrees, two degrees above normal, while in Ludhiana, night temperatures dropped by three degrees to settle at 7.0 degrees, one degree above normal.

Ambala that had recorded 1.2 mm rain till yesterday afternoon, was the coldest place in Haryana at 8.9 degrees, two degrees above normal. Hisar which had recorded 3.8 mm rain yesterday had a minimum of 9.6 degres, four degrees above normal, while Karnal recorded a minimum of 9.8 degrees, two degrees above normal.

The capital hill resort of Shimla which had recorded 1.4 mm rain yesterday continued to be in the grip of a cold wave, with the minimum dropping by two degrees to settle at 3.2 degrees. Bhuntar in Kullu district was cold at 0.6 degrees while Sundernagar again shivered at 1.4 degrees.

According to the met office, the higher reaches of Himachal would receive light to moderate snowfall in the next 24 hours, that is likely to intensify the cold wave in the North West. Thick morning fog tomorrow will hamper road and rail traffic in Punjab and Haryana, he added.

UNI HS YA KN1403