Piercing cold wave sweeps state

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 1

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti experienced the coldest night of the season with the minimum temperature plunging to minus 12.3 degree while mercury hovered around freezing point in mid hills.

The biting cold wave conditions further intensified and the high-altitude tribal areas reeled under arctic conditions with night temperatures staying between minus 15 and minus 22 degree. Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus 3.4 degree, while Manali and Bhuntar recorded minimum temperatures at minus 1 degree and 0.8 degree, three degree below normal, followed by Sundernagar 2 degree, Solan 3 degree, Kufri 3.7 degree, Palampur 4.5 degree, Shimla 5.2 degree and Dalhousie 5.3 degree.

The weather remained dry and bright sunshine greeted the people but nights were colder. The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the lower, mid and higher hills over next six days. However, the day temperature rose marginally but shady areas had no relief.

All natural sources of water in high-altitude areas, including Chandratal, Surajral, Bhrigu, Nako and the Chandra-Bhaga river have frozen, drastically reducing the discharge of water in the snowfed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi and hydropower generation has reduced to 25 to 30 per cent. Himachal received 71.8 mm rain against normal rainfall of 48.4 mm, an excess of 48 per cent during the post-monsoon season from October 1 to December 1.

All districts barring Lahaul and Spiti, which received 32 per cent deficit rain, and Solan, which has a marginal deficit of 5 per cent, received excess rain ranging between 35 and 154 per cent. The periodic rain during the post-monsoon season are beneficial for Rabi sowing and nearly 90 per cent sowing is complete.

Power output reduced by 25%

• All natural sources of water in high-altitude areas, including Chandratal, Surajral, Bhrigu, Nako and the Chandra-Bhaga river, have frozen 
• Hydropower generation has reduced to 25-30 per cent as discharge of water in the snowfed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi has reduced
• Himachal Pradesh received 71.8 mm rain against normal rainfall of 48.4 mm, an excess of 48 per cent during the post-monsoon season from October 1 to December 1.