Cold wave sweeps tribal areas

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 7

With the winter setting in much earlier, the tribal belt and other high-altitude areas are reeling under severe cold wave conditions. Natural sources of water such as springs, lakes, rivulets and tributaries of snow-fed rivers have started freezing.

The Kaza Met department in the Spiti tribal valley has been closed and the bus service on the Manali-Leh National Highway has been suspended due to slippery conditions caused by the freezing of water.

The Batal research centre of the MeT office below Kunzam Pass had already been closed due to snowfall. The entire staff had been recalled and asked to report in Manali, said Director, state MeT station, Manmohan Singh said. Usually, this centre is closed towards the end of October or early November or after snow.

The minimum temperatures ranged between -4°C and -8°C in the high-altitude tribal areas.

The local MeT office has predicted rain and thundershowers in mid and lower hills and rain or snow in higher hills on October 8 and 9 due to fresh Western disturbances.