Shimla: Biting cold continued unabated as
mercury remained below normal despite sunshine in most parts
of Himachal Pradesh where three persons have died in the heavy
snowstorm over the last few days.
The minimum temperature stayed at minus 1.8 degree and
minus 2 degree Celsius at the state capital Shimla and key
tourist resort of Manali which experienced 10 cm and 20 cm of
fresh snow.
Water pipes were frozen and thick ground frost made roads
slippery, affecting vehicular traffic.
The vehicular movement remained affected in Shimla in the
mornings and even local buses did not ply as the roads were
covered with a thin layer of snow.
The normal vehicular traffic in adjoining tourist resorts
of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Narkanda and other places like
Sarahan and Sangla was yet to be restored and efforts were
being made to clear the snow to restore road connectivity to
interior areas.
Meanwhile, reports from Chamba said that three persons
died during the recent snowstorm-- two in Kidi belt and one in
snowbound Kandla-- where a dozen houses also collapsed due to
heavy snow.
The main roads in the district had been opened but
vehicular traffic was yet to be normalised and link roads in
the interiors areas were still covered with thick blanket of
snow.
PTI
