Mercury rises marginally in HP, Una hottest at 42.8 degrees

People in lower hills of Himachal continued to reel under scorching heat as the mercury rose marginally due to dry weather in the region sparking forest fires near Shimla.
Una in Shivalik foothills sizzled at 42.8 degrees while Nahan and Sundernagar recorded a high of 36.9 degrees and 36.6 degrees, marginally above normal. Bhuntar recorded maximum temperature of 35.0 degrees, followed by Dharamshala32.2 degrees, Solan 32.0 degrees, Shimla 27.2 degrees, Manali 25.6 degrees and Kalpa 24.2 degrees C.
Barring Manali, Kalpa and Bhuntarwhich recorded a low of 6.4 degrees, 6.6 degrees ,8.0 degrees and 12.4 degrees, the minimum temperatures at other places also stayed marginally above normal.

Solan recorded a low of 16.4 degrees, followed by Sundernagar and Dharamsala 16.8 degrees, Shimla 17.0degree, Palampur 19.0 degrees, Una 21.4 degrees and Nahan 24.5 degrees Celsius.
Forest fires which had abated due to rain in several parts of the state erupted again near Shimla but was put out by forest staff, MeT department said.
The weatherman has predicted dry weather in the region over the next six days with gradual rise in the mercury.