Shimla: Lakes, rivulets and water sources in the higher reaches, including the tribal areas, of Himachal have started freezing as the temperatures have plunged below sub-zero temperatures in the region.
Mercury stayed between minus 3 and minus 6 degree C while Kalpa and Manali recorded?a low of 2.4 degree, followed by Keylong 2.8 degrees.
The minimum temperature slipped to 7.5 degrees at Solan, 8 degrees at Bhuntar, 9.5?degrees at Shimla, 10.1 degrees at Sundernagar, 10.4 degrees at Una and Palampur?and 12.6 degrees at Dharamsala.
The sudden dip in mercury has resulted in freezing of lakes, springs and rivulets in?high altitude tribal areas resulting in sharp reduction in discharge of water and fall?in hydropower generation.
Manali recorded 5 mm of rains, followed by Kalpa 2 mm and Dalhousie and?Chamba 1 mm.
The maximum temperatures also stayed marginally below normal and Una?was hottest in the region with a high of 30 degrees, followed by Sundernagar?and Bhunter?27.7 degrees, Nahan?26. 2 degrees, Solan?24.5 degrees, Dharamshala?23.2 degrees, Shimla?20.4 degrees and Kalpa?18 degrees.
The MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region over next four days with no significant rise in temperatures.
