Intense cold in HP after heavy snow

Shimla, Feb 12 (UNI) More snow clouds were hovering over Shimla and other adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh today after experiencing 73 cm snow in a single day yesterday in 17 years, intensifying coldwave in the state, the met office today said.

''Shimla has so far received about 93 cm of snow during the last 48 hrs, while 62 cm snow was recorded in the last 24 hrs up till 0830 hrs,'' Shimla Met Office Director Manmohan Singh told UNI here.

He said the town had on February 12, 2002, experienced 54 cm snow in a single day, while recording 151 cm snow during the whole month.

While Shimla had recorded the heaviest snowfall during this winter season at 73 cm in a single day yesterday, it had experienced 62 cm snow from 0830 hrs yesterday to 030 hrs today, he said.

Mr Singh said five cm of snow has also been recorded during the day today, taking the total snow received in the town to 93 cm during the month.

The strong western disturbance laying over the adjoining state of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Pakistan was likely to bring more snow and rain in the state during the next 24 hrs, he said.

The met office said Churdhar ranges, Srikhand and Moral Danda in Shimla district, and Shikari Devi in Mandi district had so far recorded over 150 cm of snow during the last 48 hrs.

Chanchal Pass and Chini Bangala in Shimla district, Kamrunag in Mandi district, Rohtang Pass, situated at 13,050 feet, in Kullu district, Saach, Kugti, Chobia and Kali Chu Passes in Chamba district had received over 120 cm of snow during the period.

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