Chandigarh, February 19
The tourist resorts of Kufri and Naldehra and higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced fresh snowfall, while lower areas in the state and plains of Punjab had rain over night.
The minimum temperature hovered 1°C to 2°C below normal at most places in the region. However, chilly winds swept the plains of Punjab following showers even as a bright sunshine greeted the people during the day.
The tourist places of Kufri and Narkanda in Shimla district had another spell of snowfall last night. Kufri recorded 5 cm of snowfall and Narkanda about 10 cm, a report from Shimla said.
High-altitude areas in the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi valley and the Bharmour area in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall last night, dipping the temperature in the tribal belt. The minimum temperature hovered -5.7°C at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.
The 13,050-foot-high Rohtang Pass and the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, overlooking the Kangra valley, also experienced snowfall, aggravating the cold climatic conditions in the twin valleys of Kullu and Kangra.
Lower areas in the state, including Pandoh, Nadaun, Guler, Nagrota Surian, Bhuntar and Sundernagar, were lashed by rain.
Cold conditions prevailed in Punjab in the wake of rain. Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were lashed by downpour. Amritsar recorded the minimum temperature of 5.8°C, the lowest in the plains. udhiana showed 7.3°C, two degrees below normal, while Patiala registered 9°C, one degree down.
The minimum temperature also remained low at various places in Haryana. Ambala and Karnal respectively recorded 9.3°C and 9.2°C.
Cold winds swept Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in the morning following rain over night. The city recorded the minimum temperature of 12.2°C, three degrees above normal.
The Weather Office has predicted rain or snow at a few places in Himachal Pradesh and rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.
— UNI
