Cold wave conditions persist in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, Jan 29 (PTI) Intense cold wave conditions heldtheir grip in Himachal Pradesh, with overcast skies and icywinds lashing the region and sub-zero temperatures in someparts, even as minimum temperatures rose marginally.

Minimum temperatures rose to 3.5 degrees C in the statecapital Shimla and Mandi, while Solan reeled under piercingcold wave conditions with a low of 1.0 degrees C followed bySundernagar at 1.9 degrees C, Bhuntar at 2.6 degrees C andDharamsala at 2.7 degrees C.

Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was slightlywarmer with minimum temperatures rising to minus 11.4 degreesC against minus 16.9 degrees C yesterday.

Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus3.5 degrees C.

The town of Una was cold at 3.2 degrees C with Mandisettling at 3.5 degrees C, Palampur at 4.0 degrees C and Nahanat 5.4 degrees C, two degrees below normal.

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures remained steady and closeto normal but Shimla and Keylong recorded a high of 13.7degrees C and 0.7 degrees C, six degrees above normal.

Una recorded a high of 20.0 degrees C while Solan andNahan recorded maximum temperatures of 19.1 degrees C and 18.1degrees C respectively.

Foggy conditions prevailed in towns of Kullu, Mandi,Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Rampur, hampering vehicular trafficin the morning hours.

The local MeT office has predicted isolated rains orsnowfall at some places across the state during the next 48hours.