Coldwave persists in HP

Shimla, Jan 14 (UNI) The biting cold wave sweeping mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh further aggravated as the minimum temperature hovered just points above freezing point here even as the state remained covered under thick clouds today.

Piercing coldwave conditions continue here recording a night temperature of 0.6 degrees, while Jakhu Hill and other higher areas have been recording sub zero temperatures for the past few days.

The met office said Sunder Nagar and Bhuntar recorded a low of minus 0.5 and minus 0.8 degrees respectively, while Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district shivered under minus 5.5 degree Celsius.

Kalpa yesterday recorded a night temperature of minus eight degrees despite dry weather for over a month now.

Water pipes remained frozen in several places in mid and higher hills, including Shimla, and thick ground frost hampered vehicular traffic.

The tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi and Pin had no respite from the intense coldwave conditions where minimum temperature stayed between minus 15 and minus 25 degree Celsius, the met office said.

The met office said rain and snow was likely all over the state during the next 24 hrs.

The power generation in all the major hydropower projects had come down to 15 per cent with water discharge in the rivers dropping due to extreme coldwave conditions.

UNI