Himachal hit by snow, rains and power-cuts

Shimla, Mar 22 (UNI) With snowfall at higher altitude, widespread rains accompanied by thundershowers and hailstorm in the mid and lower hills, people in Himachal Pradesh continued to shiver last night under the spell of cold, worsened by distrupted power supply.

The Gateway of Lahaul-Spiti, Rohtang at 13050 feet and higher reaches of Pangi and Bharmour experienced heavy snowfall.

Chamba-Bharmour and Beragarh roads were closed for vehicular traffic. Due to avalanches power supply to some parts of Lahaul-Spiti remained distrupted for past three days.

According to the Met sources, Dhundi in Kullu district received 34 cm of snow followed by 30 cm in Solang nullah and 13 cm snow at Kalpa in Kinnuar district, 8 cm snowfall at Patsio in Lahaul Spiti and 6 cm at Keylong.

Light to moderate rains lashed mid and lower hills of the state accompanied by thundershowers last night.

Bhang at tourist resort of Manali had 26.2 mm rain and 2 cm snowfall while Shimla and its surrounding areas had moderate rains with thundershowers affecting power supply in most parts last night.

Though it was sunny in morning, the sky again became overcast by the afternoon.

According to Met office, the state capital Shimla recorded 8.9 mm of rain while Sundernagar received 26.6 mm, Bhuntar 29.4 mm, Dharamshala of Kangra district had 13.6 mm rains last night.

The Met office said the minimum temperature at Shimla was 5.4 celcius, 8.8 degrees at Sundernagar, 5.6 C at Bhuntar and minus 6.5 C at Kalpa and 8.1 C in Dharamshala during last 24 hours.

UNI