Cold wave persists in HP despite clear sky

Shimla, Mar 15 (UNI) Piercing cold wave conditions continued to prevail in Himachal Pradesh with the minimum temperature at Shimla dropping to point seven degrees Celsius after five days of heavy snowfall in the tribal areas and widespread rain in mid and lower areas, the met office said today.

Patsio in Lahaul Spiti district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 25 degrees, while the night temperature at Kalpa in Kinnuar district dropped by a degree to stand at 8.1 degrees as against yesterday's minus 7.1 degrees.

The met office said Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded another cold night with the night temperatures at two and 2.2 degree Celsius respectively.

The night temperatures at several places in Kullu district of the state fell below zero degrees with Dhundi, Bhang Manali and Solang Nullah recording temperatures of minus eight, minus five and minus four degrees Celsius respectively, it said.

The sky remained mainly clear over the entire state today after experiencing five days of rain and snow, which had disrupted vehicular traffic on several state highways and link roads.

Traffic on the Manali-Leh, Manali-Pangi, Chamba-Bharmaur, Chamba-Bhairagarh and Chamba-Jot-Chuhari remained closed for the fourth day today and official sources said efforts were on to clear snow from the roads.

Power supply was also affected at several places in the tribal districts after heavy snowfall during the last five days.

The maximum temperature in Shimla rose to 10.8 degree as compared to 8.2 degrees recorded yesterday, the met office said.

It has predicted mainly dry weather in the state during the next 24 hours.

UNI