Cold wave conditions persist in North India

In Himachal, five persons were killed in an avalanche in Kinnau district last night, officials said, adding upper reaches of the state remained cut off for the fifth day today due to heavy snowfall in past few days.

Vehicular traffic could not be restored on the Hindustan-Tibet and Kiratpur-Manali National Highways which were blocked due to snowfall, they added.

Kelong was the coldest place in the state with a minimum of minus 12.5 degrees, whereas Manali shivered at minus 6.2 degrees, six notches below normal, Met office said.

The minimum temperature in capital Shimla was recorded at zero degree and the maximum was 8.8 degrees Celsius, they added.

Normal life remained affected in most parts of the state due to disruption in supply of electricity and water.

In Capital Delhi, the mercury plunged by a degree to settle at 6.3 degrees, while the maximum temperature remained at 18.9 degrees Celsius.

Met department forecasts a foggy morning for tomorrow.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the weather remained mainly dry and no fresh snowfall was reported from any part of the Vally.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar was normal at minus 0.5 degrees, while the maximum was recorded at 7.5 degrees Celsius, Met officials said.

The weathermen forecasts possibility of snow in next few days. MORE