Cold wave grips Himachal

reaches of Himachal Pradesh as minimum temperature hovered around freezing point in several parts of the region.

The weather remained dry in the region but sky was partially overcast and strong velocity icy winds swept the higher and mid hills causing fall in mercury.

The mercury dipped to minus 2.1 degree Celsius at Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district while Kalpa in Kinnaur district and key tourist resort of Manali reeled under cold wave with a low of 1.0 deg C and 1.8 deg C respectively.

The high altitude tribal areas reeled under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures staying between minus 2 to minus 7 deg C.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded minimum temperature at 3.2 deg C, followed by Solan and Sundernagar 5.0 deg C and state capital Shimla was colder with a low of 7.4 deg C.

Nahan and Una in Shivalik foothills recorded a low of 10. 4 deg C and 9.1 deg C while Mandi and Palampur recorded minimum temperatures at 9.0 deg C and 10.0 deg C, two to three deg C below normal.

The maximum temperatures remained close to normal with Una hottest during the day with a high of 28.4 deg C, followed by Sundernagar 24.0 deg C, Bhunter 23.6 deg C, Nahan, Solan and Dharamshala 22.0 deg C and Shimla 17.3 deg C.

The local MeT office said that temperatures would remain low in the region as Northwesterly winds are prevailing over the state.