Himachal reels under intense cold, Lahaul and Spiti freezes at -10° C
: Himachal Pradesh is reeling under intense cold following a fresh spell of snowfall with temperatures in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district hitting a low of nearly -10° Celsius, the meteorological department said.
Following the heavy snow, Rohtang Pass was closed for traffic, an official of the Lahaul-Spiti district said. About 10 cm snowfall was recorded in Rohtang Pass, 4 cm in Koksar, Sisu and Gondola, while Kalpa received 3cm snowfall.
The mercury in Kinnaur district was at -9.9°Celsius and in tourist destination Manali it was -2.2°Celsius.
With cold wave intensifying, the meteorological office in Shimla predicted snowfall in high altitude areas and rain in lower regions of the state.
The Met department director Manmohan Singh said on Friday, “The western disturbances are likely to affect Himachal Pradesh from December 9 with snowfall and rain.”
The temperature in state capital Shimla experienced the coldest night on Wednesday, which further remained coldest on Friday. While the minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 13.5° Celsius in the day. The Met office has not made any forecast for snow in Shimla.
Last year, it snowed in Shimla on January 1. The hospitality industry is expecting a good season this time. Tourist and holidaymakers have already booked hotels in Shimla and surrounding in advance for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
SEASON’S COLDEST NIGHT IN SRINAGAR
SRINAGAR:Srinagar witnessed the season’s coldest night at minus 4°C, while the minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir continued to drop on Friday, the weather office said. “The temperatures dropped due to clear night sky.
During the next 48 hours, the state’s higher reaches are likely to receive light snow as a western disturbance is expected during this period,” a Met official said.
The minimum temperatures in Pahalgam and Gulmarg were minus 6.0°C and minus 6.2°C, respectively. In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 7.3°C, Katra and Batote 7.5°C, Bannihal 5.2°C and Bhaderwah 0.5°C as the night’s lowest temperatures.