Himachal reels under intense cold

Cold wave conditions have gripped lower hill areas of Himachal Pradesh with the local MeT office warning of intense cold at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts for the next five days.

Tabo in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius.

The state capital Shimla remained warmest for the second consecutive night recording a minimum temperature at 10.9 degree Celsius, 5.2 degrees Celsius above normal, the local Met office.

As cold wave conditions continued to grip the lower hills, the MeT office on Monday issued an “orange” warning of severe cold at isolated places in the lower hills and plain areas of Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur.

Kangra district will reel under intense cold till Friday besides dry weather in the state over the next seven days, the department said.

Shimla, the ‘Queen of hills', recorded a high of 21 degrees Celsius, marking the second highest temperature for the month of December since 2017 when the maximum temperature was 21.3 degree Celsius.