Lightning claims one more life in Haryana

Chandigarh, Feb 12 (UNI) Lightning claimed the life of one person in Haryana, as widespread rains lashed north-west India since last night.

Shimla and higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall even as the mercury stayed two degrees to six degrees above normal at most places in the region.

One person, identified as Naresh (20), was killed when lightning struck him at Shamru village near Panjokhra, 10 km from Ambala, yesterday. The incident occurred when he was working in the fields.

He died on the spot, a report from Ambala said.

With this death, the toll due to lightning rose to six in Haryana so far.

The lightning badly damaged a residential house at Jamal Majra village, the report said. All electrical and electronic appliances were burnt and the kitchen of the house was totally damaged. A portion of the house developed cracks.

Rabi and potato crops cultivated in the catchment areas of Markanda and Tangri rivers perished when these submerged in the overflowing waters of the rivers, the report said.

Shimla and its adjoining areas expereienced fresh snowfall, plumetting the temperature in the capital town. Upper areas of shimla district, including tourist resorts Kufri and Narkanda and the Key tourist places of Manali in Kullu district and Dalhousie in Chamba district also had snowfall.

Vehicular traffic on the 320-km Hindustan-Tibet road remained suspended beyond Dhalli following snowfall, a report from Shimla said. Roadways buses to Rampur and other higher areas in Shimla district have been diverted via Dhami and Sunni, while vehicles to Rohru and other places in the district have been diverted via Poanta.

However, the Shimla-Chandigarh national highway and Shimla-Mandi road was open for vehicular traffic.

Various localities in Shimla town, where power wires were snapped due to snowfall yesterday, continue to remain without electricity for the second day today.

High altitude areas in tribal districts of Kinnaur and Pangi valley in Chamba district had moderate snowfall intensifying cold wave currently lashing the tribal belt. Lahaul Spiti district experienced mild snowfall.

Severe cold wave conditions were experienced in tribal areas where the mercury hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 3.5 degrees celsius.

The 13050-ft high Rohtang Pass, gateway to tribal Lahaul Spiti district, and Dhauladhar mountain ranges, overlooking the picturesque Kangra Valley, also had moderate snowfall since last night.

Lower and mid hills in Himachal Pradesh and many areas in Punjab and Haryana experienced rainfall overnight. However, the minimum temperature hovered above normal in the twin states.

Amritsar was the wettest place in Punjab recording 38.4 mm rainfall till 0830 hours. Ludhiana, Patiala, Nangal and Hoshiarpur areas also had rain.

In Haryana, moderate rain pounded Karnal, Nelokheri, Kalka, Panchkula, Rohtak and Ambala.

The weather Office has predcited moderate to rather heavy rain or snow at most places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain at many places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the area during the period.

UNI