Keylong freezes at -9.6°C

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 16

Most parts of the state shivered as the mercury hovered around the freezing point.

Water pipes froze in several areas in mid and higher hills, affecting water supply, while thick ground fog in the morning made driving hazardous and hampered vehicular movement.

About 560 roads were still blocked due to snow and Kullu and Manali districts were without power supply for nearly 100 hours. The state electricity board was working overtime to erect the collapsed poles and overhead transmission lines and repair the damaged transformers.

The Hindustan-Tibet National Border was opened via Narkanda up to Tapri for single lane traffic while the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway was opened up to Manali and stranded people moved out. The Shimla-Rohru road was opened up to Jubbal while Nerwa and Chopal roads were cleared for vehicular traffic, officials said.

“Work is going on war footing and we hope to open all the roads in the interior areas also in the next three days,” said Ajay Garg, Superintending Engineers (Works).

The mighty Dhauladhar range donning a mantle of white snow presented a dazzling look as sun’s rays fell on the snow-laden pinnacles.

The high-altitude tribal areas were freezing with mercury staying between 10 and -20°C while Keylong in tribal Lahaul & Spiti experienced the mercury dipping to -9.6°C.

Manali and Kalpa recorded minimum temperatures at -4.2°C and -3.8°C, while mercury hovered around freezing point, at 0.2°C at Bhuntar and 0.7°C in Shimla, followed by Sundernagar 1.5°C, Mandi 1.7°C, Solan, Palampur, Una and Chamba 2.5°C, Nahan 3.3 °C and Dharamsala 3.8°C.

The day temperature rose significantly by eight to ten degrees as sun shone over large tracts of land. Una was hottest with 19.6°C while Sundernagar recorded maximum temperature at 17.5°C, followed by Solan 15.0°C, Nahan 14.2°C, Dharamsala 12.6°C, Bhunter 10.5°C, Shimla 10.0°C, Kalpa 5.0°C and Manali 3.2°C. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region over the next five days.