Shimla, Manali have more snow; mercury dips below zero in most of HP

The picturesque tourist resorts of Shimla and Manali experienced more snow on Wednesday but the state capital also saw a sunny day after four days of intermittent snowfall.

The temperatures remained below the freezing point at most places in the state with more snow and rain, an official of the meteorological office here told IANS.

The state capital that saw one cm of snowfall recorded the minimum temperature at 3.2 degrees Celsius below the freezing point.

Bharmour in Chamba district had 10 cm of snowfall in the past 24 hours, which is the state's highest.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state with a minimum temperature recorded at minus 11.4 degrees Celsius, while the temperature was minus 8.6 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district, minus 6.6 degrees in Manali, but 7.2 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala.

Manali and Kalpa towns saw six cm and eight cm of snowfall, respectively.

The Met Office said western disturbance -- a storm system originating from the Mediterranean-Caspian Sea region which brings rain or snow in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent -- would be active again in the region on January 14 and 15, with chances of widespread rain and snow.

--IANS

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