Snow in Dhauladhars, hail in Palampur

Our Correspondent

Palampur, March 3

Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorm and high-velocity winds lashed Palampur and adjoining areas today causing widespread damage to crops particularly tea and fruits. The hailstorm continued for half-an-hour resulting in considerable fall in temperature.

Peach, plums and almond trees which were in flowering stage were the worst affected, while tea and wheat crops also suffered considerable damage.

Upper reaches of Dhauladhar and Bara Bhangal areas of Palampur region have been experiencing heavy snow for the past 24 hours.

Entire region is in the grip of unusual cold wave in the month of March. According to Met Department the upper areas of Palampur recorded 5°C temperature today.

Rain and snow have adversely affected normal life in the region forcing residents to stay indoors and wear woollens. Telecommunication, electricity, drinking water-supply services were disrupted.

Fruit growers who were expecting a bumper crop this year suffered major setback because of inclement weather which destroyed plum, peach and almond crops in the lower area of Kangra region.

Rain drenches Kangra

KANGRA: Kangra valley, after three days of heavy rain, witnessed a sunny morning today. But the afternoon saw a dark sky and the valley was lashed by heavy rain, bringing back the cold wave. Kangra was drenched and shivered following snowfall on the Dhauladhar mountain range. As a result, the mercury dropped down considerably. KK Sharma, Director, Kangra Airport, said the Spice Jet flight had a delayed arrival but returned back to Delhi as the weather was sunny till then.

Reports of rain were received from Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Jwalamukhi, Shahpur, Dhraman, Nagrota Bagwan, Icchhi, Gaggal, Mallan, Palampur, Dehra, Haripur and Ranital.— OC