Snow prediction ahead of PM's visit has admn on tenterhooks

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 25

The state continued to reel under intense cold wave conditions despite dry weather while the local meteorological office has predicted light to moderate snowfall in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts and higher reaches of Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur, Kullu, Chamba and Kangra districts during the next 48 to 72 hours.

The administration is on the tenterhooks following the weather forecast ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mandi visit on December 27.

The Met office also predicted rain and snow at many places on December 26 and at isolated places on December 27 and 28 in mid hills and also warned of thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightning in lower hills on December 26.

It stated that following fresh western disturbances, there is a possibility of thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm in plains, low and mid hills on December 26 and light to moderate snowfall is likely in mid and high hills with a possibility of disruption in essential services like electricity, communication, blockage of roads, decrease in visibility and related services. The MeT office advised public to take adequate safety measures.

Meanwhile, strong velocity icy winds lashed Shimla and other mid hills under partially overcast sky.

The minimum and maximum temperatures dropped by one or two degrees C and night temperatures hovered around the freezing point at most places in middle and higher hills.

In high-altitude tribal areas, minimum temperatures stayed between -8 degrees C and -14 degrees C while Keylong and Kalpa registered -7.6 degrees C and -3.9 degrees C, followed by Manali at -0.6 degrees C, Sundernagar -0.8 degrees C, Solan 1.7 degrees C and Shimla at 2 degrees C.