Mercury further rises in region; fresh snow in HP

Chandigarh, Feb 6 (UNI) The mercury further rose in north-west region even as higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced fresh snowfall and isolated places in Punjab and Haryana had rain during the past 24 hours.

The minimum temperature hovered one degree to six degrees celsius above normal at many places in the region despite snow and rain.

High altitude areas in tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Kullu district had another spell of snowfall this morning. The entire tribal belt was under the impact of cold wave conditions following snowfall.

The sky remained partially cloudy in mid and lower areas of the state and rain lashed some areas in Kullu district. Dark clouds hung over the capital town of Shimla where the mercury remained static at 5.7 degrees. However, the night temperatures recorded increase at Sundernagar in Mandi district and Bhuntar in Kullu district, respectively showing 6.0 degrees and 4.4 degrees Celsius.

The temperature hovered four degrees above normal in Ambala and Karnal towns of Haryana, showing 12.3 degrees and 11.8 degrees Celsius respectively. Both these towns experienced rain.

The mercury rose in Punjab with the minimum temperature hovering 12.7 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal, at Ludhiana. Patiala recorded 12.9 degrees, four degrees above normal, while Amritsar showed 8.4 degrees, two degrees above normal. Certain areas in the state, including Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar, were lashed by rain.

It was another warm day for the people of Chandigarh with the mercury continuing its upward movement. The city recorded 14.2 degrees, six degrees above normal.

The minimum stayed 12.5 degrees, four degrees above normal, at Safdarjung in Delhi while Palam recorded 14.2 degrees celsius.

The Weather Office has predcited light to moderate rain or snow at few places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

UNI