Dry weather spikes Himachal mercury abnormally

Large parts of Himachal Pradesh saw abnormal rise in mercury on Tuesday, with no chance of rain and snow largely this week too, the weather department said.

State capital Shimla saw the rise in the night temperature at 9.3 degrees Celsius, which was 6.4 degrees above the season's average. It saw a low of 5.7 degrees a day earlier, while the maximum stayed at 17.4 degrees Celsius.

Popular tourism destination Manali recorded a low of minus 0.6 degree Celsius.

According to a Met department official here, Shimla and its nearby tourist spots like Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda, Kasauli, Chail, Manali, Dharamsala, Palampur and Dalhousie may experience long sunny days till January 21.

"There is no chance of snow or rain across the state till January 21," the official said.

Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district was the coldest in the state with a low of minus 8.5 degree Celsius.

Kalpa, some 250 km from here in Kinnaur district, saw the minimum temperature at minus one degree Celsius, while it was 6.6 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala and 8.8 degrees Celsius in Dalhousie town.

The prevailing dry weather has worried tourism industry representatives.

They are concerned as most of the popular destinations are totally befit of snow cover that may dampen the spirit of revelers ahead of the Republic Day.

--IANS

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