Temperatures dip after widespread rains in HP

Shimla, May 9 (UNI) Temperatures across Himachal Pradesh dipped by two to three degrees after light to moderate widespread overnight rains in the state, the met office said.

Light to moderate rains lashed all most all places in Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Kinnuar and Shimla districts, recording a fall in the minimum temperatures.

The met office said rain followed by hailstorm has damaged apple crops in Kullu and Shimla districts of the state, causing huge losses to the horticulturists.

The rains had brought down the mercury by several degrees below normal, forcing many to pull out their woollens in the state capital.

The higher altitude areas of tribal Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur districts received mild spell of snowfall yesterday with Baggi, Ranadi, Kalbog and Kairi areas in Shimla district recording hailstorm early morning today.

The met office said the minimum temperature of Shimla town dropped to 10.6 degree Celsius, as compared to 14.7 degree Celsius recorded yesterday, after 2.5 mm rain up till 0830 hrs.

Sundernagar recorded 12.4 mm of rains, Bhuntar, 10.5, Kalpa 2.5 mm, Solan 2.8 mm, Palampur 2.6 mm, Nahan 16 mm, Bhang Manali two mm and Dhundi 2.5 mm of rain, it said.

It said the minimum at Sundernagar and Bhuntar dropped to 16.8 degree and 13.1 degree Celsius as compared to 18.2 degree and 14.6 degree Celsius respectively.

Both Solan and Palampur recorded minimum temperatures of 16.5 degrees, Nahan 21.2, Una 19, Bhang Manali 10, Dhundhi 6.5 and Patsio zero degree Celsius.

Shimla, however, recorded a maximum temperature of 24.9 degrees as compared to 25.1 degree Celsius.

The sky over Shimla and other adjoining areas was overcast during the second half of the day after the sun played hide and seek early today.

Shimla Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh said minimum temperatures in state were two to three degrees below normal for this period of year after widespread rains.

UNI