Mercury further rises; snow in HP

Chandigarh, Feb 23 (UNI) The mercury continued its rising trend in north-west India while higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh had snowfall and lower areas of the state experienced rain since last night.

The minimum tempratures stayed two degrees to six degrees Celsius above normal in Punjab and Haryana while low clouds hung over some areas in Himachal Pradesh. Certain areas, including Bathinda, Sirsa, and Suratgarh, were shrouded in fog reducing the visibility.

Tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall last night.

The temperature hovered below freezing point in the tribal belt and Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 2.5 degrees.

The 13050-foot-high Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul Spiti district, and the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, facing the picturesque Kangra valley, also received snowfall.

The night temperatures maintained the upward movement in Punjab.

Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Adampur, Pathankot and Bhatinda recorded the minimum temperatures at 8.8 degrees, 13.5 degrees, 11.6 degrees, 15.4 degrees, 15.4 degrees and 13.8 degrees respectively.

The mercury also rose in Haryana with Narnaul recording the minimum temperature at 10.5 degrees, followed by Karnal registering 14.2 degrees, Ambala 14.5 degrees and Hisar 14.7 degrees.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh also recorded a rise in the night temperatures. While the minimum increased to 10.7 degrees at Sundernagar, 11.1 degrees at Mandi and 7.6 degrees at Una, it declined to 8.8 degrees at Dharamsala, 2.8 degrees at Bhuntar and 6.7 degrees at Shimla.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were lashed by high speed winds. Night temperature further increased in the city recording 13.2 degrees, four degrees above normal.

The weather Office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region. After 24 hours precipitation is likely to decrease and night temperatures may fall by two degrees to three degrees celsius.

UNI VKJ AKJ BST1843