Govt claims supplies partly restored

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 20

The biting cold wave continued to sweep across most of state even as life started limping back to normalcy with power and water supply being partly restored in Kullu and Manali after six days. The authorities said about 700 roads were also open.

All stranded persons have been rescued and major roads have been cleared of snow. Work is going on on a war footing to open 150 odd link roads in the interiors of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts, but the government has so far not revised its advisory asking tourists to avoid visiting Kullu-Manali areas due to heavy snow.

With the Met office predicting fresh snowfall and rain in mid and higher hills during the next 48 hours, tourists are making a beeline to Shimla and other key tourist resorts and the local administration has made adequate arrangements to maintain law and order.

“Tourists have been advised not to indulge in rowdyism and ring in the New Year in good spirits,” Shimla SP DW Negi said. “People come here to enjoy and we are not imposing undue restrictions, but they must maintain discipline and refrain from disturbing public peace,” he added.

Meanwhile, high-altitude tribal areas continued to reel under piercing cold conditions with mercury staying 10 to 15 degrees below the freezing point. Keylong and Kalpa, headquarters of tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts, recorded minimum temperatures at minus 9.5°C and minus 1.8°C, while Manali shivered at minus 3.5°C.

The minimum temperatures hovered around freezing point at Bhuntar, Sundernagar, Solan and Una which recorded a low of minus 0.8°C, minus 0.3 °C, 1.5°C and 1.8°C while Mandi recorded minimum temperature at 3.7°C, followed by Dharamsala 4.2°C, Palampur 4.5°C, Nahan 4.7°C and Shimla 5.7°C, two to four degree below normal.

The maximum day temperature fluctuated marginally and Solan was hottest at 21°C, followed by Sundernagar and Nahan at 19.5°C, Shimla 16.6°C, Una 15.3 °C, Bhunter 15°C, Dharamsala 14.4°C and Kalpa 6.2°C.