Snow in higher reaches, cold wave grips HP

Several areas in mid and higher hills were lashed by high velocity icy winds followed by intermittent showers.

The Rohtang, Kunzam, Saach and Chansel passes, high altitude tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti and Pangi and mountain peaks in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts experienced mild snowfall.

Keylong recorded 2cm of snow while Rohtang and Kunzam passes had 10cm of snow.

Shimla was lashed by high velocity icy wind followed by intermittent showers, causing a sharp fall in temperature which dipped to 6.5 degree Celsius while Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahual and Spiti and Kinnaur reeled under intense cold wave conditions with mercury dropping to minus 0.5 degree and 1.0 degree Celsius respectively.

The lower areas of Kangra and Mandi district received moderate rains.

Manali recorded minimum temperature at 5.0 degree while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded a low of 10.1 degree, followed by Nahan 11.7 degree, five degrees below normal.

The sky remained cloudy and a strong wind swept the region, forcing people to stay indoors.