Cold wave conditions in Himachal, snowfall in many places

Normal life was affected for the second day today in Shimla and several other areas in Himachal Pradesh which reeled under piercing cold wave conditions as Kharapatthar area in the state capital received 90 cm of fresh snow till this morning and over 500 roads were closed to heavy snow.
Kharapatthar in Shimla received 90 cm of fresh snow till this morning while Dhundi got 58 cm, followed by Solang Nallah 50 cm, Bhang 43 cm and Kalpa 23 cm, official sources said.
The entire state reeled under piercing cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures plummeted after snowfall.
Upper Shimla region, tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur and areas beyond Manlai remained cut off from rest of the state for the second day and over 500 snow covered roads were still closed in Shimla, Kullu and Sirmaur district inspite of claim of Public Works department to have opened 70 roads today.

Shimla had a clear day in the morning but sky was heavily overcast by the noon.
Kalpa, Keylong and Manali recorded minimum temperatures at minus 3.4 degree, minus 2.7 degree and minus 1.2 degree, while Shimla shivered at minus 0. 4 degree.

Solan recorded a low of 2 degree, followed by Bhuntar 2.5 degree, Nahan 4.2 degree, Sundernagar 4.5 degree, Una 5.4 degree, Dharamsala 6.8 degree.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed the PWD, IPH and HPSEB authorities to restore the roads, power and water supply in the affected areas at the earliest
"As many as 70 road including Shimla-Kalka and Kullu-Manali national Highway have been opened to traffic and work to open remaining roads was going on a war footing", said Engineer-in-Chief (PWD), A K Kohli.

"Vehicular traffic has also been restored to popular tourist places like Kufri and Fagu and traffic is through upto Theog, 32 km from here and Dalhousie in Chamba district while about 230 JCB Machines and other heavy machinery had been deployed to clear the roads at the earliest", he claimed.
Power supply was badly hit in Kausali, Dagshai and Solan as the main power transmission line of 33-KV Sub Station wasbadly damaged after an uprooted tree fell on the linenear Barog, 8-km from Solan.
Power supply was restored in the state capital after 40 hours but there was no water supply.