Snow in Rohtang, widespread rain in state

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 18

A thunder squall followed by heavy rain lashed Shimla and surrounding areas this afternoon disrupting normal life. The town received 25 mm rain in one hour while Solan received 18 mm rain.

Dark clouds and fog reduced visibility to a few meters hampering vehicular traffic. There was darkness at noon and vehicles moved at slow pace with headlights on. Long queues of vehicles caused traffic jams at several places causing inconvenience to people. The heavy rain caused landslides at a few places while some trees were uprooted in suburban areas.

The adjoining tourist resorts of Mashobra and Kufri also received 40 mm and 25 mm rain, while Sunnibhajji and Khadrala recorded 26 mm and 24.4 mm rain followed by Renuka 24.0 mm, Bijahi 22.4 mm , Mandi 19.2 mm, Kumarsein 14.6 mm, Seobagh 13.4 mm and Bajaura 10.6 mm.

The higher reaches in tribal areas and the Rohtang Pass received mild snowfall causing sharp fall in mercury in Manali which was the coldest in the region with a low of 6.2°C, followed by Kalpa 6.8°C, Keylong 8.8°C, Bhuntar 12.5°C, Shimla 14°C, Sundernagar 14.6°C, Solan 14.7°C, Palampur 16°C, Dharamsala 18.6°C, Nahan20.3°C and Una 21.5°C.

The local MeT office has issued fresh warning of thunder squall accompanied by hailstorm at isolated places in mid and lower hills on May 21. The MeT office also predicted thunderstorm and rain in the lower and mid hills at isolated places for four days from tomorrow and rain or snow at isolated places in the higher hills over six days from tomorrow.

Fog reduces visibility  

• Dark clouds and fog reduced visibility to a few meters hampering vehicular traffic. 
• The local MeT office has issued fresh warning of thunder squall accompanied by hailstorm at isolated places in mid and lower hills on May 21. 
• The MeT office also predicted thunderstorm and rain in the lower and mid hills at isolated places for four days from Friday and rain or snow at isolated places in the higher hills.