Cold wave intensifies in HP; 2 more die taking toll to 10

Piercing cold wave conditions further intensified in Himachal Pradesh today with Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti experiencing the coldest night at minus 15 degrees Celsius and high altitude tribal areas groaning under arctic conditions, even as two more persons died due to cold taking the total deaths in Shimla district to 10 since heavy snowfall last week.
The mercury hovered around the freezing point in most places while Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of minus 8.0 and minus 7.2 degree Celsius, respectively, followed by Sundernagar minus 1.8, Bhuntar minus 0.8, Shimla and Solan minus 0.6, Palampur 0.5 degree, Una 1.4, Nahan 3.7 and Dharamsala 4.8 degrees Celsius.

Water supply pipes froze at several places disrupting supply for seven days at a stretch.
The MeT office has warned of heavy rain or snow at isolated places in mid and higher hills on January 15 and 16 as a fresh Western Disturbance is very likely to affect western Himalayan region from January 14 and 15, adjoining plains, keeping people on tenterhooks.
The Hindustan-Tibet Road was still close beyond Narkanda and skidding of vehicles on frozen roads in higher hills hampered road traffic and caused frequent traffic jams.
Kinnaur district and Lahaul and Pangi tribal valleys remained cut off from the rest of the state for the seventh day, and in state capital Shimla, water and power supplies remained erratic.

Meanwhile, with the death of two more persons due to cold today, the death toll in Shimla district after heavy snowfall last week has risen to 10.

Reports reaching here said that Khushi Ram (43) of Khadrala in Rohru was found dead early today, while a Nepali labourer, Dev Singh (45), was found dead on the roadside near Anu Kansakoti in Rohru.
Preliminary enquiry by police revealed that Singh died due to hypothermia.
Earlier eight persons have died in incidents related to cold.