Cold wave intensifies in Himachal with fresh rains, snowfall

Cold wave conditions further intesified in Himachal Pradesh as tribal areas and higher reaches experienced another spell of moderate snowfall while thunderstorm, rains and sleet lashed themid and lower hills.
The state capital Shimla was lashed by rain and sleet, accompanied by mild snowfall, while parts of Solan district were hit by hailstorm and rains.
Rohtang Pass and adjoining areas received 10 cm to 15 cm of fresh snowfallwhile Kothi and Kalpa had 12 cm to 5 cm of snow.
The famous tourist resorts of Narkanda, Fagu, Kufri and upper Shimla are experiencing intermittent light snowfall, accompanied by strong velocity icy winds and rains.

Rains and sleet, accompanied with snowflakes greeted people in Shimla town towards the evening and the local MeT office has predicted more rains, thunderstorm and snowfall at isolated places across thestate for next three days.
Heavy snowfall is expected at isolated places in higher hills tomorrow.

The fresh spell of rains and snowfall brought cheers to apple growers and farmers as low temperature is conducive for the rabi crop.
Widespread rains occurred at various places in lower and mid hills, with Dharmashala being the wettest in the region with 16 mm rains, followed by Chamba 14 mm, Kangra 13 mm, Una 9 mm, Saluni andManali 7 mm, Solan 6 mm, Sundernagar and Seobagh 4 mm, Bharmaur andBangana 2 mmand Shimla and Bhuntar 1 mm.

The high altitude tribal areas were left reeling under freezing cold due to intermittent snowfall, affecting the normal life in the tribal valleys.
Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur district recorded minimum temperatures at minus 5.6 degree and minus 2.6 degrees respectively, while key tourist resort of Manali shivered at 0.6 degrees Celsius.
Solan and Shimla recorded minimum temperatures at 4.5 degrees and 4.9 degrees, followed byBhuntar at 5.0, Sundernagar 5.6, Una 7.5, Nahan 7.9, Palampur 8.0and Dharamsala at 9.0 degrees Celsius.
The maximum day temperatures dropped by few notches and Nahan recorded maximum temperature during the day with a high of 17.6 degrees, followed by Solan at 17.5, Una at 16.4, Sundernagar 15.8, Dharamshala 15.0, Bhuntar 14.1, Shimla 13.7 and Kalpa at 3.6 degrees Celsius.