Snowfall affects life in HP, mercury rises in Punjab-Haryana

New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) Snowfall in Himachal Pradeshtoday affected normal life there and cut-off the higherreaches with rest of the state, while the minimum temperaturerose in the plains of Punjab and Haryana.

Bright sun made it a hot day for Delhiites as mercuryrose to a maximum of 28.8 deg C, which was six degree abovenormal while the low was recorded at 13.6 deg C, four degreesabove normal.

The hills and mountain passes, including Lahaul andSpiti and Kinnuar in Himachal, have been experiencing moderateto heavy snowfall since last evening.

Telecommunication services were badly disrupted inLahaul and Spiti district, which is already cut off by roadfrom rest of the state due to heavy snowfall.

Keylong in Lahaul recorded 45 cm of fresh snow whileKillar in Pangi, Rohtang Pass, Mari and Koksar recorded 70 cmto 90 cm of snow as snowfall was continuing.

The tourist resorts of Manali, Narkanada, Hatoo Peak,Sarahan and Sangla also experienced snowfall while Shimla,Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur and other hilly areas receivedheavy rains accompanied by high-velocity chilly winds.

Manali recorded about 30 cm of snow this evening whilethe nearby Solang slopes were covered under 120 cm thick layerof snow, bringing cheers to skiers.

Kalpa and Sangla in Kinnaur district recorded 30 cm ofsnow while Narkanada and Khara Patthar in Shimla district had20 cm of snow.

The day temperatures plummeted across the state due tofresh rains and snow with Shimla recording a high of 7.6 degC, while Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Mandi and Solan experiencing13.4 deg C, 9 deg C, 13 deg C and 17.4 deg C respectively.

Cold conditions abated in Punjab and Haryana with theminimum temperature rising by upto seven degrees Celsius abovenormal in the region.

Narnaul was coldest there with a low of 10.5 deg C,which was, however, four notches above normal. While the lowin Bhiwani settled at 10.6 deg C, the minimum temperature atAmritsar was 12 deg C, six notches above normal.

Among other places, Karnal had a low of 12.4 deg C,three notches above normal followed by Gurgaon at 13 deg C,Ludhiana at 14 deg C and Patiala at 15 deg C.

Chandigarh recorded a low of 15.2 deg C, seven notchesabove normal. Certain pockets of the region also receivedrainfall -- Ludhiana (1.2 mm) and Amritsar (2.3 mm).