Cold wave grips HP, affects Hydro-power generation

Hydro-power generation in Himachal Pradesh has been affected with sources of major rivers starting to freeze as cold wave conditions intensify in high-altitude areas of the state, MeT department officials said today.
"Natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries of major rivers have started freezing. Hydro-power generation has come down by around 50 per cent with reduced discharge of water from snow-fed the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers," they said.
Even as weather remained dry in most parts of the state night temperatures dropped significantly in high-altitude areas, as Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded minimum temperatures at 1.6 degrees and 3.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

The tourist resort of Manali recorded a low of 5.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhuntar (6.8), Sundernagar (7.6) and Solan (8 degrees Celsius).
Besides, Palampur recorded 10 degrees Celsius, Shimla 10.8, Una 12.2 and Nahan and Dharamsala 14.2 degrees Celsius each.
Though weather remained dry in most parts of the state, strong velocity cold winds swept areas in the mid and higher hills, MeT officials said.

The sky remained overcast in high-altitude tribal areas but there was no snowfall and rains, they said.
There was marginal drop in maximum temperatures as Una remained the hottest at 31 degrees Celsius.
Sundernagar recorded 27.8 degree Celsius, Bhuntar 26.7, Solan 26, Nahan 24.4, Dharamsala 21.2, Shimla 20.6, Manali 19.1 and Kalpa 17 degrees Celsius.

The ongoing dry cold spell has become a reason of anxiety among farmers with not enough moisture in the soil for sowing of Rabi crops, they said.
The monsoon ended with a 26 per cent deficit while the deficit from October 1 to November 4 was 88 per cent, MeT officials said.
The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the state over the next six days beginning tomorrow.