Fresh snowfall intensifies cold wave

Fresh spell of snowfall in higher hills and rains in lower hills in Himachal Pradesh has intensified the cold wave conditions across the North Indian states. The Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) and other high reaches were closed following fresh snowfall, while all the other major national and state highways remained open for vehicular movement. Mercury stayed below freezing point in tribal areas with Kalpa and Keylong recording minus 2.6 degree and minus 1.1 degree, while high altitude tribal areas reeled under cold wave conditions with mercury staying between minus six and minus 10 degree Celcius, MeT officials today said. Key tourist resort of Manali recorded minimum temperature at minus 1.6 degree, while Shimla registered a low of 3.0 degree, followed by Una 4.2 degree, Bhuntar 5.4 degree, Dharamsala 6.8 degree, Solan 7.0 degree, Sundernagar 7.5 degree and Nahan 9.7 degree Celsius. Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded 11 cm and 10 cm of snow, while Manali and Bharmaur recorded 6 cm and 5 cm of fresh snowfall, MeT said. Manali was wettest in the region with 39 mm rains, while Saloni and Sundernagar recorded 37 mm rains, followed by Shimla 35 mm, Seobagh 31 mm, Jubbarhatti 30 mm, Dharampur 29 mm, 28 mm, Bilaspur 24 mm, Bhuntar 22 mm and, Kahu and Pandoh 20 mm, and Kasauli and Chamba 19 mm. The maximum temperatures dropped marginally and Una in Shivalik foothills recorded a high of 20.2 degree, followed by Solan and Bhuntar 17.0 degree, Nahan 15.8 degree, Dharamshala 15.1 degree, Shimla 10.2 degree, Kalpa 7.4 degree and Manali 6.8 degree Celsius, MeT said. The fresh rains have brought cheers to farmers as it is a boon for Rabi crops and has also brought down the rain deficit from October 1 to December 12, 2015 to 18 per cent from 51 per cent. The local MeT office has predicted dry weather over the next four days with marginal fluctuation in mercury.