Intense cold wave sweeps Himachal

An intense cold wave left Himachal Pradesh reeling Tuesday with Keylong recording a biting minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, the state's coldest town.

Shimla, which has been experiencing sunny days, recorded a low of 2.9 degrees Celsius, a fall from Monday's 3.1 degrees, a weather official told IANS.

The minimum temperature in Kalpa, Kinnaur district was recorded at minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, while it was minus 2.4 degrees Celsius in Manali, three degrees Celsius in Dalhousie, 1.8 degrees Celsius in Chamba and 4.8 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala.

The Met Office did not forecast rain or snowfall before the dawn of the New Year.

"There are chances of snowfall across the state as the western disturbances will be active in the state from Jan 3," Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

He said the probability of snowfall in Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Kalpa and Dalhousie are high between Jan 3 and 4.

Certain locations in Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda and Manali, though, are still wrapped under the blanket of snow that fell during mid December.