Shimla records coldest night of season at minus 2.2 degrees

Shimla, Jan 21 (UNI) Piercing coldwave conditions are prevailing in entire Himachal Pradesh with Shimla town recording the coldest night of this winter season at minus 2.2 degree Celsius, the met office said today.

The minimum temperature in the state capital plummeted to minus 2.2 degrees as compared to zero degrees recorded yesterday following clear sky after recording heavy snowfall in the mid and lower hills and rains in the lower parts of the state due to the Western Disturbance (WD) a few days ago.

The met office said Patseio in Lahaul Spiti district was the coldest place in the state with night temperature of minus 24 degrees followed by minus 15.9 at Keylong, district headquarter of Lahaul Spiti, minus 15 at Dhundi in Kullu district and minus seven degrees at Bhang Manali.

The minimum at Kalpa in Kinnuar district dropped three to stand at minus 11.2 degrees as compared to 8.2 degrees recorded yesterday, while Una town cold at 2.8 degrees, it said.

It said Solang Nullah, Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded night temperatures of minus 2.5 degrees, minus point six and minus four degrees respectively following a clear night sky and overcast conditions yesterday.

The minimum temperatures at several places in the mid and lower hills of the tribal district had plummeted between minus 25 and minus 40 degrees, throwing normal life out of gear.

Meanwhile, the met office said barring 15 cm snow in the famous tourist resort of Manali in Kullu district, there was no report of any snow or rain from any other part of the state during the last 24 hrs.

The sky remained clear over Shimla town and other adjoining areas during the first half of the day today before thin clouds appeared during the second half.

Several localities in the town and other places in the mid and lower hills of the state went waterless today after the supply lines froze due to sub zero temperatures.

The sky remained mainly clear in the lower parts of the state throughout the day and people were seen basking in the warm sunshine.

The met office has forecast mainly clear sky in the state during the next 24 hrs.

UNI XC AS JN VN SHB RK1848