Widespread rainfall cools Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, May 24: Widespread rains and thundershowers on Tuesday brought down temperatures in Himachal Pradesh by four to five notches, weather officials said. The weather department has forecast more rains in the state by Wednesday, May 25.

Shimla and nearby areas saw moderate rain. "The entire state saw a good spell of rain, bringing the temperatures down considerably," an official of the meteorological office here said.

Shimla recorded a maximum of 24 degrees Celsius as against Monday's high of 27.1 degrees. The minimum was 11.7 degrees.

Likewise, Sundernagar recorded a high of 30.4 degrees Celsius, while it was 19.2 degrees in Kinnaur and 15.2 degrees in picturesque tourist resort Manali. The day temperature at Dharamsala stood at 27.4 degrees Celsius.

Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district was the coldest in the state with a low of 5.5 degree Celsius, while the maximum was 17.7 degrees.

Dharamsala recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 55 mm. The state capital saw 18 mm rain.

There were reports of widespread damaged to public and private property ans crops, mainly apple crop in the low hills, across the state owing to high-velocity winds accompanied by a hailstorm.

IANS