Himachal receives fresh snowfall; sub-zero temperatures in Valley
SHIMLA: Shimla and higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received fresh spell of snow on Saturday.
Minimum temperatures remained normal, but maximum temperatures were recorded two to three degrees below normal. Precipitation occurred at isolated places over the state in the last 24 hours. State’s meteorological department director Manmohan Singh said, “Weather will remain dry on Sunday. However, heavy snowfall and rainfall are likely to continue from January 20 to January 22 .”
State capital Shimla received light snowfall and recorded 0.2°C minimum temperature.
Kufri, 14km from Shimla, recorded -0.5°C minimum temperature, while Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie witnessed -1.4°C, 2.8°C and -0.4°C, respectively. Kalpa in Kinnaur district witnessed 24.4cm snowfall and recorded -4.6°C minimum temperature.
Keylong shivered at -9.2°C, while Una was the hottest place in the state as it recorded 21.2°C maximum temperature.
TRAFFIC MOVEMENT HIT
Fresh snowfall has hampered the traffic movement on NH-5, also known as Hindustan Tibet Road, and Shimla-Bilaspur highway.
Shimla superintendent of police Omapati Jamwal said, “Dhalli-Kufri road is very slippery and risky. People should avoid travelling during night.”
Shimla deputy commissioner Amit Kashap said “All roads are open in Shimla urban area, including Shimla-Theog, ShimlaRampur and Chopal roads. Traffic is plying normally towards Khadapathar and Rohru.”
“Snow-clearing operations are going on in the district and electricity supply is being restored in the rural areas . HRTC buses are plying normally in the district as well as Dodra Kwar subdivision,” he added.
SRINAGAR SHIVERS AT MINUS 1.4°C
SRINAGAR: Cold wave conditions persisted in the Valley and Ladakh on Saturday, with the two neighbours witnessing subzero minimum temperatures that led to frost formation on roads and caused inconvenience to motorists, the meteorological department said.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the coldest place in Kashmir with a minimum temperature of minus 11°C, it said.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.4°C, down from Friday’s minus 0.8°C.
In Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir, the mercury settled at a low of minus 1.4°C.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.8°C. The night temperature in Kokernag, in south, settled at a low of minus 2.1°C, while Kupwara, in north, recorded a low of minus 4.8°C. In Ladakh, Leh recorded a low of minus 13°C and the nearby Drass registered a minimum temperature of minus 24.1°C.