Two die as storm hits HP; widespread rains continue

Two persons died today as an uprooted tree fell on their tent during a storm while they were camping at a nature Park in Narkanda forests, 65 km from here even as rains lashed many areas of Himachal Pradesh.
Eight others staying in adjoining tents escaped unhurt, an official said, adding the deceased hailed from Jalandhar and were employees of Punjab education department.
Shimla and several other parts of Himachal Pradesh were hit by a storm, accompanied by intermittent rains, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply.
The maximum day temperatures dropped by few notches after rains. Mercury dipped to 32.8 degrees C at Una in Shivalik foothill after 40 mm of rains while Bhuntar was hottest during the day with a high of 33.7 degrees C, followed by Nahan 32.3 degrees C, Dharamshala 31.8 degrees C, Sundernagar 31.4 degrees C, Solan 24.5 degrees C, Manali and Kalpa 24 degrees C and Shimla 22. 8 degrees C.

The region received widespread rains and Tissa in Chamba district recorded 31 mm of rains, followed by Chhatarari-- 26 mm, Saloni andGohar25 mm, Dalhousie and Kumarsein 21mm, Amb 18 mm, Kufri 17 each mm, Mashobra 16 mm, Banjar andMandi 14 mm, Shimla 12 mm, Rohru andKahu 13 mm, Bajura 11mm, Kotkhai and Bangana 10 mm.
Minimum temperatures close to normal and Kalpa was coldest in the region with a low of 9.4 degrees C, followed by Manali 9.8 degrees C, Keylong 12.1 degrees C, Shimla 13.3 degrees C, Dharamsala 16.4 degrees C, Bhuntar 17.0 degrees C, Palampur 18.0 degrees C, Solan 18.4 degrees C, Sundernagar 19.1 degrees C, Una 20.7 degrees C, Nahan 21.7 degrees C.

The local MeT office has predicted rains and thunderstorm at many places across the state over the next six days.