Shimla records 73 cm snow as cold wave intensifies in HP

Shimla, Feb 11 (UNI) Shimla today experienced 73 cm snow in a day in 17 years and the first snowfall of the year after a long dry spell during the winter season, intensifying cold wave in Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told UNI here the town today recorded 73 cm of snow in a single day in 1990.

He said Shimla had in 2002 recorded 54 cm of snow in 24 hours.

The met office said Jakhu Hills, overlooking the town, had received about 80 cm of snow up till 1730 hours, while the tourist resort of Kufri, about 17 km from here, recorded about 90 cm of snow today.

Narkanda had recorded about 90 cm followed by 73 cm and 75 cm at Fagu and Sarahan respectively, it said.

The met office said minimum temperature of the town plummeted to minus point six per cent from a high of 5.5 degree Celsius recorded yesterday, while the lowest dipped to 3.3 degree from a high of eight degrees yesterday.

Vehicular traffic on the National Highway 22 has been blocked beyond Dhalli due to heavy snowfall and vehicles were being diverted to the upper areas via Basantput, official and police sources said.

Traffic was moving at a snail's pace between Shoghi, about 15 km from here, and the town due to heavy snowfall as long line of vehicles lined the both sides of the road.

Reports of snow from Chanchal Ranges in Rohru area, Theog, Chopal, Jubbal, Kotkhai and several higher altitude areas of the district have also been received.

The met office said high altitude areas of the tribal districts of Kinnuar, Lahaul Spiti, Kullu and Chamba were also receiving intermittent snowfall, while heavy rains were lashing the lower areas of these districts since last night.

Raksham and Chitkool in Kinnuar district had received over 35 cm and 50 cm of snow, while Kalpa and Sangla Valley had recorded about seven inches of snow each up till 1700 hours, disrupting all vehicular movement in the district.

The met office said the Manali-Leh Road remained closed for vehicular traffic after Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul Spiti district, received over four feet of fresh snowfall, while Solang Nullah had recorded about 13 cm of snow.

Lahaul, Spiti and Pin Valleys had experienced mild to moderate snowfall, while Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul Spiti had received seven to eight cm of snowfall, intensifying coldwave in the state.

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