More rain and snow in HP under WD

Shimla, Feb 22 (UNI) Isolated places in the high and mid hills of Himachal Pradesh are experiencing fresh spell of snow for the second day today following the presence of Western Disturbance (WD) over the adjoining state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The met office said higher altitude areas of the tribal districts of Kinnuar, Lahaul Spiti and Chamba are experiencing fresh spell of snowfall since yesterday morning following which the entire region was in the grip of a coldwave.

Rekong Peo, Lahaul Spiti's district headquarter, had so far received over 30 cm of snow, while Kalpa recorded about 15 to 20 cm, it said.

It said the higher reaches of the tribal districts, which were under a thick layer of fog, had recorded over 40 cm of snow in the past 36 hours.

Light rains also lashed the famous tourist resort of Manali in Kullu district and a few places in the Shimla district last night, the met office added.

Meanwhile, overcast conditions are prevailing in the lower parts of the district because of the Western Disturbance (WD), which was however, not as severe as it was earlier this month.

The minimum temperature at Shimla rose by almost two points to stand at 7.6 degree Celsius, about three degrees above normal, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded night temperatures of 9.4 and 8.6 degree Celsius.

Yesterday's day temperature at 16.9 degree Celsius was about seven degrees above normal.

Kalpa in Kinnuar district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.1 degrees, while Mandi town recorded a low of 6.3 degrees.

The met office has forecast more snow and rain at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hrs.

UNI AS JN MS VC1756