Sunny days and freezing nights in Himachal

The minimum temperature in most parts of Himachal Pradesh remained either close to or below the freezing point.

Shimla, Dec 15: It was another sunny day in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday although the minimum temperature in most areas remained either close to or below the freezing point, the weather official said.

However, the state would continue to remain deficit of rainfall and snowfall till December 20.

Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district was the coldest in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius.

Picturesque tourist resort Manali in Kullu district recorded a low of zero degree Celsius, while it was one degree in Kalpa in Kinnaur district, 4.5 degrees in Mandi and 11.6 degrees in Dharamsala.

The state capital registered a low of 5.6 degrees. It saw the maximum temperature at 14.3 degrees on Wednesday.

The prolonged dry spell for over two months was causing anxiety among the farmers as they apprehend it would hit the crop badly.

According to the weather department in Shimla, the deficiency in rainfall was almost 100 per cent from October 1 till date. Hamirpur, Kangra and Una were among the worst affected districts.

Meteorological office Director Manmohan Singh told IANS that dry conditions would continue across the state till December 20.

IANS