Himachal reels under cold, mercury dips
Shimla: The hills and valleys of Himachal
reeled under piercing cold as sky remained heavily overcast
and day temperatures dipped in most parts of the state.
Heavy overcast during the day forced people to stay
indoors as mercury dipped to 0.1 deg C in Shimla after mild
rains this evening.
Manali recorded minimum temperature at zero degree while
Solan, Bhuntar, Sundernagar and Una recorded a low of 0.6 deg
C, 1.6 deg C and 2.7 deg C, 3.4 deg C respectively.
The Pangi tribal valley in Chamba district was cut off
from the rest of the state following heavy snowfall on the
Saach Pass. The other route via Rohtang pass was earlier
closed due to heavy snow.
Meanwhile, the higher hills in tribal area of Chamba,
adjoining Pir Panjal hills in Jammu and Kashmir have
reportedly received intermittent snowfall since today morning.
The high-altitude passes such as Jalsu, Chobia and Kugti
had also been closed due to heavy snowfall, reports said.
The tribal areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Pangi
shivered under cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures
ranging between minus 12 and minus 23 degree while the day
temperatures hovered around the freezing point.
The local MeT office has predicted widespread snow, rains
and thunderstorms at many places in the state with further
fall in mercury.