Rain, snow boon for rabi crop

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 8

The widespread rain and snow in different parts of the state during the past 48 hours has not only ended the prolonged dry spell but also given a lease of life to the rabi crop which was affected by dry weather and rising temperatures, particularly in lower hills of the state.

There was a dire need of rains, especially in rain-fed areas at this point of time which would prove boon for wheat, potato, pulses, oilseeds and vegetable crops, besides fruits. In case, periodical rains continued in coming weeks, crop prospects would be very good and water sources would also be recharged, said SR Kalia, Director, Agriculture.

“We hope to meet the food grains production target for 2015-16 in case the predictions of more rains by local Met office come true,” he added.

Meanwhile, most of the roads blocked by snow were opened. The roads closed beyond Kotkhai, Hindustan-Tibet national highway were opened up to Theog and Kotkhai but roads to Rohru and Chopal were closed due to heavy snow at Kharapatthar and Nerwa.

The Rampur-bound buses were being diverted via Basantpur and Kingal while Rohru-bound buses were coming while Paonta Sahib and Shillai. The tourist today enjoyed the sunny day after yesterday’s snowfall.

Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest at night with minimum temperature at -3.9°C followed by Kalpa -3.4°C while the key tourist resorts of Manali, Shimla and Dalhousie recorded a low of -2.4°C, 1.3°C and 1.6°C, respectively followed by Solan 1.8°C, Sundernagar 2.4°C, Bilaspur 5°C, Una 5.6°C, Dharamsala and Nahan 5.8°C each, Mandi 5.9°C.

Kalpa recorded a maximum of 8°C while the key tourist resorts of Manali, Shimla and Dharamsala recorded a high of 11.4°C, 14°C and 15.4 °C, respectively, followed by Bhuntar 17.2°C, Nahan 19.3°C, Solan 19.5°C, Sundernagar 20.7°C, Kangra 21.1°C. Una was the hottest with 22.7°C.