Rain, snow hit HP, Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Feb 28 (UNI) Moderate to heavy snowfall occured in Himachal Pradesh while lower areas of the hilly state and plains of Punjab and Haryana received widespread rains since last night, reviving wintry conditions at most places in the region.

Shimla and upper areas of the district had another spell of snowfall, preceded and followed by intermittent rain.

The entire tribal belt of Himachal Pradesh experienced heavy snowfall, making the people groan under severe cold wave conditions in the tribal areas.

The 13050-foot-high Rohtang Pass, gateway to tribal Lahaul Spiti district, and Dhauladhar mountain ranges, overlooking the picturesque Kangra Valley, are experiencing snowfall since last night. The Rohtang Pass has been already closed.

High altitude areas in Chamba, Kullu and Kangra districts also experienced a fresh snowfall. About 130 cm snow was recorded at Petsio, followed by Dhundi registering 120 cm, Solang Nullah (80 cm), Bhang-Manali (67 cm) and Kalpa 41.3 cm snow.

Heavy rain pounded mid hills and lower areas of Himachal Pradesh, reviving cold climatic conditions and triggering landslides at certain places in the state. Heavy rain was reported from Sujanpur Tira, Naudan, Nagrota Surian, Guler, Pandoh, Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Rampur, Suni and Kahu.

The Met office warned of heavy rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh in the next 24 hours.

Widespread rain occured Punjab and Haryana overnight, but minimum temperatures hovered above normal. Ambala, Hissar, Karnal, Narnaul, Jagadhri, Nelokheri, Chachroli, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Balachour, Marelkotla and Nangal Dam had moderate rainfall till this morning.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also were having moderate rain since last night. High velocity winds swept the city in the morning, rattling window panes.

The weather Office has predicted moderate to rather heaving rain or snow at most of the places in Himachal Pradesh and moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers at many places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. Hailstorm or thundersquall with wind speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to hit isolated places in the area.

UNI