Fresh snow in Manali, Kufri; rain lashes Shimla

Biting cold wave conditions further aggravated in Himachal as tribal areas and other higher hills received fresh snowfall while severe storm lashed mid and lower hills accompanied by rains and sleet.

Icy winds accompanied by sharp showers lashed state capital Shimla forcing people to stay indoors while adjoining tourist resort of Kufri received light snowfall.

Higher reaches in Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kullu received fresh snowfall while lower hills of Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Solan had widespread rains causing sharp fall in temperature.

Kalpa and Manali received 5 cm and 3 cm of snow while Rohtang Pass and Kothi had 30 cms of snow. Chamba was the wettest in the state with 19 mm of rains followed by Tissa 16 mm, Sundernagar 10 mm, Manali 9 mm, Dalhousie 8mm, Bhuntar 7mm Shimla and Sarahan 5 mm.

The maximum temperatures dropped from 25.2 degree to 18.3 degree C at Una. Keylong recorded the minimum temperature at minus 5 degree while Kalpa, Kufri and Manali recorded a low of minus 0.6 degree, 2.5 degree and 3.6 degree, respectively.

The local MeT office has warned of thunderstorm accompanied with hail and gusty winds in lower and mid hills on March 14 and predicted rains or snow at many places in mid and higher hills for next six days till March 17 as a fresh Western disturbance is likely to affect Himachal from March 13.— TNS