Winter unending as snow, rain hit state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 1

The tribal areas and other higher reaches of Himachal experienced another spell of snowfall while heavy rain lashed mid and lower areas, causing sharp fall in day temperatures.

The high-altitude tribal areas are cut off from rest of the state and uncertainty looms large over Himachal School Board examinations starting from March 4 as question papers have not reached in the snow-bound areas.

The high-altitude tribal areas, mountain passes of Rohtang, Chansel, Kunzam and Saach and Dhauladhar and Churdhar ranges in Kangra and Sirmaur are experiencing heavy snowfall since last night.

Kalpa and Keylong in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded 30 cm and 35 cm snow while Mari, Koksar, Rohtang Pass and Churdhar ranges received 40 cm to 50 cm snow while adjoining valleys received moderate snowfall.

All schools in the Lahaul valley would open tomorrow but avalanche threat loomed large over the valley and people have been advised to stay indoors.

Nahan and Manali received 15 mm and 13 mm of rain, followed by Kasauli 13 mm, Majholi 12 mm, Sundernagar and Solan 9 mm, Shimla, Una and Kangra, 8 mm.

High-velocity winds accompanied by sharp showers lashed Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Kullu and several other places in mid and lower hills and sky remained heavily overcast.

Una recorded maximum temperature of 18.6°C against yesterday’s 25.2°C while Nahan recorded a high of 17.2°C, followed by Sundernagar 15.4°C, Dharamsala 15.2°C, Solan 14°C, Bhunter 13°C, Manali 8.6°C, Shimla 8.3°C and Kalpa 0.4°C.

However, the minimum temperature increased by 1 to 2 degree and Kalpa in the tribal Kinnaur district was the coldest in the night with -6°C followed by Keylong -2.2°C, Manali 2.4°C, Dalhousie 2.8°C, Shimla 7.6°C, Bhuntar 7.9°C, Dharamsala 8°C, Solan 8.6°C, Una 9°C, Chamba 9.4°C, Hamirpur and Sundernagar 9.9°C each, Kangra 12.2°C and Nahan 13.7°C.

The local Met office has predicted heavy to heavy rain and thunderstorm at isolated places in lower hills, rain or snow in mid hills and heavy snowfall in higher hills tomorrow and rain and snow up to March 7.