Another spell of snow in HP
From Tribune Reporters and UNI

CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — Widespread snowfall in Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining areas of Jammu and Kashmir since early today caused a sharp fall in day temperature while people in plains of the north-west region continued to reel under tricky weather conditions for more than a month now.

The night temperatures in Srinagar and Jammu, which had risen by 4 to 1°C above normal at 1.7 and 8.9 degrees, saw a sharp fall as icy winds from fresh snow-capped mountains swept across. The whole of the Ladakh region remained severely cold-bound with low temperatures hovering around 10 to 12°C below freezing point.

In Himachal Pradesh, tourist resorts of Narkanda, Fagu, ski slopes of Kufri, Baghi and Khadrala, in Shimla district, were experiencing snowfall since morning. Shimla and its adjoining areas had intermittent rain accompanied by icy cold winds.

High-altitude areas in the tribal belt of Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall since last night.

A report said higher areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Bharmour in Chamba district, the 3,015-metre Rohtang Pass, and Dhauladhar mountain ranges also experienced snowfall.

The upper areas of key tourist spots like Manali in Kulu district and Chachoit area of Mandi district, Churdhar of Sirmour district, too, reported snowfall and sharp decline in temperature.

Lower areas of Solan, Sirmour, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts, besides Dharamsala, reported spells of rain.

In most of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, night and day temperatures rose by 1 to 2°C above normal, under an overcast sky and fog.

The day temperature in and around Chandigarh, which had risen to 20.6°C during a brief sunshine, slumped to 16.6°C in the afternoon under an overcast sky, coupled with icy winds from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

In Delhi, Safdarjung and Palam reported the low of 7.3°C and 7.7°C, respectively. Ambala in Haryana reported the low of 7°C, 2°C above normal, so also Amritsar.

Rain and snow adversely affected traffic in Palampur and adjoining areas. Bus services between Palampur-Multhan, and Baijnath-Kothi Kohar have been suspended following heavy snow in Chhota Bhangal valley. Power supply and telecommunication services have also been hit.

The prospects of rabi crops brightened following rain which lashed Moga and its neighbouring areas for over an hour.

It paralysed traffic, but there was no sign of fog.