Farmers worried as Met predicts rain tomorrow

SHIMLA: The people in the lower hills will have some relief from the scorching heat as the local Met office has predicted wet weather from April 20 but farmers are on the tenterhooks as warning of thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and squall on April 21 and 22 has been issued.

Tourists enjoy the cool weather at Gulaba, 22 km from Manali, on Tuesday. Photo: MC Thakur

Tribune Reporters

Shimla, April 18

The people in the lower hills will have some relief from the scorching heat as the local Met office has predicted wet weather from April 20 but farmers are on the tenterhooks as warning of thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and squall on April 21 and 22 has been issued.

The hailstorm or squall is damaging for the wheat crop during this season as the crop is ripe and harvesting is in full swing.

The Met office also predicted rain or thundershowers at a few places in mid and lower hills from April 20 and rain or snow in the higher hills.

The day temperature stayed above normal and Una was the hottest with 41 degree while mercury rose to 27.4 degree in Shimla, 6.5 degree above normal.

The key tourist resort of Manali was also warm during the day with a high of 26 degree, 3.2 degree above normal while the mercury touched 35.8 degree at Sundernagar, 34.8 degree an Bhuntar and 33.5 degree at Solan.

Shimla was warmer than most of the places at night with the minimum temperature rising to 18.3 degree, 6.7 degree above normal. Nahan was the hottest during the night with a low of 21.4 degree, followed by Una at 18.4 degree, Sundernagar 16.3 degree and Solan 16 degree C.

Tourists throng Gulaba

Manali: Hundreds of tourists have made a beeline to Gulaba to enjoy the snow and get respite from the scorching heat of the plains. Tourists are being allowed to go till Gulaba, about 22 km from here, on the Manali-Leh highway, which is the current snow point of Manali.

As the temperature is soaring, tourists are thronging Manali. As the road opens to vehicular traffic, the snow point also keeps on moving higher till the Beas nullah, Marhi, Rani nullah and the Rohtang Pass. Soon, tourists will be allowed to go towards Marhi after checking the permits at Gulaba barrier.

Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has speeded up the snow clearance work on the Manali-Leh highway. Its machinery has crossed the Rani nullah area and is approaching towards the Rohtang Pass.

The rise in temperature has started to show its impact on the surrounding hills also. The snow is melting fast and the water level in the Beas and its tributaries are on the rise.