Himachal sees high mercury, rains in store

Himachal Pradesh continued to experience hot weather on Sunday with temperatures in some parts touching close to 40 degrees Celsius though Shimla was comparatively pleasant at a high of 24.7 degrees Celsius. But rains are in store.

"The minimum temperatures moved up by one to two degrees in the state. In the next three days, there are chances of rainfall and thundershowers," an official at the meteorological office here told IANS.

He said Una town, located on the Punjab border, was the hottest in the state with a high of 39.2 degrees Celsius.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded a maximum of 33.7 degrees, Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 33.6 degrees, Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded 23.8 degrees Celsius and Dharamsala in Kangra district saw 32.4 degrees.

Picturesque tourist resort Manali was the coolest in the state with a low of eight degrees Celsius. Shimla was comparatively 'warm' with the minimum temperature at 15.2 degrees.

--IANS

vg/vd