Cold conditions intensify in Himachal Pradesh

Higher reaches in Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur and Haripurdhar, Noradhara and Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur district witnessed intermittent snowfall.

The mountain passes of Rohtang, Kunzam, Saach and Chansel also experienced same conditions, causing a sharp fall in temperatures which varied between minus 8 degrees Celsius and minus 14 degrees Celsius.

State capital Shimla was assailed by icy winds and intermittent showers. Water pipes were frozen in some parts of the town as the mercury dipped.

The adjoining tourist resorts of Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda had another spell of moderate snowfall.

The MeT department has predicted widespread snowfall in the region with Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and Mcleodganj likely to experience moderate to heavy snowfall.

Day temperatures dipped by a few notches across the state. The maximum temperatures dropped marginally in Shimla from 10.2 degrees Celsius to 9.7 degrees Celsius.

Una recorded the highest temperature at 20.8 degrees Celsius followed by Nahan 17.7 degrees Celsius, Solan 17 degrees Celsius, Dharamshala 14.8 degrees Celsius, Bhunter 12.8 degrees Celsius and Sundernagar 12.3 degrees Celsius.

Keylong was the coldest in the region with a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius while Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and 2 degrees Celsius.

They were followed by Shimla, Una, Mandi and Solan at 3 degrees each, Sundernagar and Bhuntar at 4 degrees each, Palampur and Dharamshala 6 degrees each and Nahan 7.6 degrees Celsius.