Cold wave continues unabated in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 4

The piercing cold wave conditions sweeping most parts of Himachal continued unabated even as the stormy conditions subsided and the region had a clear sky in the morning.

The minimum temperature stayed below normal as high altitude tribal areas experienced moderate snowfall in the past 24 hours. The lower areas of the state received scattered rains accompanied by icy winds.

The Rohtang Pass, covered with 120 cm of snow, has been closed to traffic. Vehicular traffic was also disrupted on the Hindustan-Tibet National Highway beyond Rekong Peo. The link roads in interior areas of Ani, Nirmand, Jalori and Banjar areas of Kullu district were closed due to snow, while all major highways in the state remained open.

Kalpa received 13 cm of snow while Keylong and Khadralaa recorded 5 cm of fresh snow. Heavy rains lashed several parts of the state. Kumarsain was the wettest in the state with 46 mm of rain while Sundernagar and Bijahi recorded 29 mm and 25 mm of rain, respectively, followed by Manali 22 mm, Kandaghat 21 mm, Hamirpur 19 mm, Jubbarhatti 17 mm, Jogindernagar, Jubbal and Shimla 15 mm, Baldwara 14 mm , Naina Devi, Bajaura 13 mm and Bhuntar 11 mm.

The minimum temperature stayed 12°C to 20°C below the freezing point in the high altitude tribal areas. Keylong and Kalpa in the tribal areas recorded a low of minus 9.5°C and minus 3.2°C, followed by Manali minus 2.0°C, Shimla 1.2°C, and Chamba 1.5°C. The mercury hovered around freezing point in the lower hills as Dharamsala and Una recorded a minimum temperature of 3.4°C and 4.0°C, followed by Nahan 4.4°C, Bhuntar and Solan 4.5°C and Sundernagar 6.2°C.

The day temperatures rose by a few notches and Una was hottest during the day with a high of 18 degrees, followed by Sundernagar 17.7°C, Solan and Bhuntar 17°C, Dharamsala 13.8°C, Nahan 12.5°C, Shimla 11.1°C, Manali 6.6°C and Kalpa 5.4°C.

The local MeT office has predicted light rain or snow in the higher hills tomorrow and dry weather in the lower parts of the state over the next five days.