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Tribune reporters
Shimla, April 11
Cold wave condition was revived in most parts of the state as maximum temperatures plummeted by five to eight degrees following fresh snowfall and rains in the region.
While Rohtang Pass, Kothi and Mari received 32 cm, 8 cm and 5 mm of snow, mid and lower hills experienced widespread rains. Gohar in Mandi district was the wettest with 53 mm rains while Manali, Salooni and Una received 35 mm, 31 mm and 30 mm rains, followed by Hamirpur 27mm, Seobagh 26 mm, Dalhousie 25 mm, Dharamsala and Kandaghat 22 mm, Nagrota Surian 21 mm and Naina Devi 20 mm.
The sky remained heavily overcast in Shimla and intermittent rains lashed the town and surrounding areas and maximum and minimum temperatures dropped to 12.4 degree Celsius and 8.0 degree Celsius.
Mercury dropped to 25.8 degree Celsius in Una against 33.0 degree Celsius on Tuesday while mercury stayed five to eight degree Celsius below normal at most places. The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region over the next two days and rains, thunderstorm or snow in the region from April 14 on wards.
Tourists throng Solang
Manali: The snowfall in the upper Manali areas brought cheers to both tourists and people associated with the tourism industry. The Manali-Keylong highway was blocked due to the fresh snowfall on the Rohtang Pass. Solang valley, 13km from here, experienced fresh snow. The higher reaches, including, Pir Panjal ranges, Marhi, Gulaba, Kothi, Brighu slopes, Hamta ski slopes and Dhundi, also received fresh spell of snowfall. Both Solang valley and Gulaba were thronged by tourists on Wednesday morning. Tourists from plains who had come to Manali were surprised to see the snowfall in April. Hundreds of tourists enjoyed the unexpected snowfall. Due to the snowfall, the Manali-Rohtang highway was blocked for traffic. Also, HRTC that had started its bus service on Manali-Lahaul routes had to be suspended. Snowfall also hampered the snow clearance work .
Cheers to orchardists, farmers
Chamba: A fresh spell of snow on the high mountains of Pangi and Bharmour tribal terrains of Chamba district and heavy rain in the lower reaches in the past 48 hours have brought cheers to apple orchardists and farmers. According to reports on Wednesday, officials of the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments said the rain in the lower areas after a long time was a boon for rabi crops, though hailstones in certain pockets were harmful to the crops, they said. As a sequel to the inclement weather in the district, the mercury had dipped in the entire area, the reports said. OC
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