Shimla: The biting cold wave conditions further aggravated in mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday as the state was swept by strong velocity icy winds and several areas, including Shimla and surrounding tourist resorts of Kufri and Narkanda were lashed by sleet. The maximum day temperature dropped to 5.2 degree in Shimla while the minimum day temperature sunk to 1 degree C.
The capital town recorded 1.5 cm of snow with minimum temperature at 0.2 degree while Manali and Solan recorded a low of minus 2.8 degree and minus 0.5 degree. The twin towns of Palampur and Dharamsala reeled under piercing cold wave conditions with mercury staying at 2.5 degree and 3.5 degree below normal.
Keylong and Kalpa in tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur recorded minimum temperature at minus 11.2 dgree and minus 6.7 degree while the high altitude tribal areas groaned under shivering cold conditions with minimum temperatures ranging between minus 16 and minus 28 degree C. The Chandrabhaga River, a tributary of Spiti was blocked due to an avalanche in Lahaul and Spiti district but there was no cause for alarm as the discharge of water was very low due to freezing of the river.
Local MeT office has predicted more rains, snow or thunderstorm at isolated places in mid and higher hills during next four days.
PTI