Five killed in HP; cold wave sweeps Punjab

Chandigarh, Feb 8 (UNI) Five people were killed, three of them due to avalanches, in Himachal Pradesh as cold wave swept the hilly state and Punjab today.

The mercury registered a sharp decline in the plains, hovering two degrees to six degrees celsius below normal, following another spell of Moderate to heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh since last night.

Chilly winds lashed most parts of the region where some areas experienced rain overnight.

Two children, identifed as Amar Chand (16) and Robin Singh (13) were killed when avalanches occured at Sishu village in tribal Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, a report from Shimla said.

In another incident, a woman was reported missing at Pandar village in the remote Dodra Kawar area of Shimla district. People in the tribal areas have been advised not to venture out due to the threat of avalanches in the tribal region.

An unidentified person succumbed to intense cold in Chamba town and another in a village in the district, taking the death toll due to intense cold and weather-related accidents in Himachal Pradesh to 16 so far.

High and mild hills in Himachal Pradesh .... eds. picking up para six of CH 14, weather-northwest.

UNI VKJ JS1938