State reels under severe cold after snow

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 17

Most parts of the state reeled under severe cold on Saturday, with the minimum temperature staying below freezing point owing to this week's snow and rain.

Strong velocity icy winds swept Shimla. Mid and higher hills remained under partially overcast sky. High-altitude tribal areas groaned under biting cold wave conditions as the mercury ranged between -8°C and -13°C. Keylong, Kalpa and Manali recorded the minimum temperatures at -6°C, -1.0°C and -0.6°C.

All natural sources of water such as lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries have frozen in high-altitude tribal areas and other higher hills, drastically reducing the discharge of water and affecting hydropower generation.

The mercury hovered around freezing point at many places and Bhuntar recorded a low of 3.4°C. Solan and Sundernagar shivered at 3.5°C, followed by Kufri 4.4°C, Palampur 6.0°C, Shimla 6.5°C, Una 6.8°C, Dharamsala 8.2°C and Nahan 8.8°C, two to four degree below normal.

Following fresh rain in mid and lower hills and snow in high-altitude areas in most parts in the past 10 days, the post monsoon deficit from October 1 to November 31 has been reduced from 31 per cent to four per cent. The region received 49 mm of average rain against the normal rainfall of 51.3 mm.

Six out of 12 districts had deficit rain while the remaining received excess rain.

Kullu district received 140 per cent excess rain, followed by Chamba 31 per cent, Shimla 18 percent, Mandi 10 per cent and Bilaspur four per cent.

However, Sirmaur and Una districts recorded 58 per cent and 57 per cent less rain, followed Kangra 39 per cent, Hamirpur 38 per cent, Solan 31 per cent, Kinnaur 18 per cent and Lahaul-Spiti 13 per cent.