Cold wave sweeps across state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 21

Intense cold has gripped several parts of the state with there being no significant increase in the minimum temperature. The sky remained overcast in the mid and higher hills, including Shimla.

The high-altitude tribal areas and mountain passes witnessed mild snowfall, with strong velocity winds sweeping across the region. The mercury plummeted further in the adjoining areas.

The Met office has predicted thundershowers and rain at most places in the lower hills, rain or snow at many places in the mid and higher hills from January 24 to 27 and also warned of heavy snowfall or rain in the mid and higher hills on January 24 and 25.

“Another Western Disturbance as an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over North Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan which will affect the Himalayan region,” the Met office said.

The high-altitude tribal areas reeled under arctic conditions with mercury staying 15 to 20 notches below the freezing point while Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti recorded a low of minus 12.1 degree C followed by Kalpa minus 2.0 degrees Celsius and Manali minus 1.0 degrees Celsius.

Solan and Sundernagar shivered at 3.0 degrees Celsius and 3.5 degrees Celsius followed by Bhuntar 4.5 degrees Celsius, Shimla 6.4 degrees Celsius, Palampur and Una 6.5 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala 7.0 degrees Celsius and Nahan 9.2 degrees Celsius.

However, Solan was warmer at 22.5 degrees Celsius while Una and Nahan recorded a high of 17.7 and 16.8 degrees Celsius followed by Sundernagar 14.5 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala 13.2 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 13.0 degrees Celsius, Shimla 12.0 degrees Celsius, 9.5 degrees Celsius and Kalpa 3.6 degrees Celsius.

The recent snowfall and rain have proved beneficial for wheat, barley and other rabi crops and also the apple crop which got sufficient chilling hours and moisture.