Snowfall continues in HP, temperature dips
SHIMLA: The maximum temperature decreased by 7°C in Himachal, following the rain and snowfall in the higher reaches of the state on Friday.
Heavy to moderate snowfall and rain occurred at various places throughout the state during the last 24 hours.
Heavy snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of the state, including Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur and Shimla districts.
Strategic Leh-Manali highway and Rohtang Pass (gateway to Lahaul-Spiti district) have been completely closed. Lower and middle hills of the state received heavy to moderate rainfall. Gondola in Lahaul-Spiti, Keylong and Kalpa in the Kinnaur district received 38cm, 10cm and 3cm snowfall, respectively.
The highest rainfall occurred in Chamba district’s Dalhousie, which received 46mm rainfall and recorded a minimum temperature of -0.2°C. Dharamshala received 12.6mm rain and recorded a minimum temperature of 9.8°C.
Manali sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Raman said, “Barriers
have been installed on Kothi as Leh-Manali highway remains completely closed. Tourists are advised not to venture snow prone areas.”
Shimla recorded minimum temperature of 6.9°C while the minimum temperature in Manali was 2.9°C , while Kufri, 14km from the state capital, recorded a minimum temperature of 3°C, while the minimum temperature in Kalpa was 0.7°C.
State meteorological department director Manmohan Singh said, “Due to fresh western disturbance, snowfall and rainfall continued to occur on Friday. However, weather is likely to get dry from November 9 onwards.”
Keylong, headquarter of Lahaul-Spiti, was the coldest in the state with -1.9°C minimum temperature, while Una was the hottest in the state with 27.3°C maximum temperature.
On Thursday, Kullu administration rescued 250 stranded tourists from Gulaba, 20km from Manali.
THE MET HAS SAID THAT THE WEATHER IS LIKELY TO GET DRY FROM NOVEMBER 9 ONWARDS