Thunderstorms likely in 9 districts of Himachal from tomorrow

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 21

Amid the continuing dry spell in most parts of Himachal, the local meteorological office has issued yellow warning of thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightning in nine out of 12 districts from February 23 to 25 and predicted wet spell in mid and higher hills, adding to the worries of farmers and fruit growers.

Stormy conditions are harmful for rabi crops and stone fruit crops from mid-February to mid-April as wheat and other rabi crops are maturing in the lower hills and the stone fruit crops are at the flowering stage. Thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightning are likely at isolated places in nine districts barring Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Solan districts while hailstorm, thunderstorm and lightning are likely in Chamba, Kangra and Kullu districts from February 23 to 25; Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi and Shimla districts on February 25.

Lower areas of these districts are major rabi crop-growing areas while stone fruits are grown in the higher hills. The Met office has also predicted rain and snow in the higher hills over the next six days and mid hills for next five days and rain and thundershowers in the lower hills from February 24 onwards as a Western Disturbance is likely to affect the Western Himalayan Region from the night of February 22.

Though the farmers are awaiting a wet spell, hailstorm and thunderstorm are very harmful for the crops and the farmers are keeping their fingers crossed. There was no significant change in minimum temperatures which stayed close to normal. The day temperatures stayed three to four degree above normal and Una, Bhuntar and Sundernagar were 4-8°C above normal at 27.6°C, 26.7°C and 26.4°C. Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district recorded a high of 19°C, 12 degrees above normal.

Avalanches at 2 locations in Lahaul-Spiti district

Mandi: Two snow avalanches were triggered off at two different locations at Karpat and Lobar during the day under Udaipur subdivision of tribal district Lahaul-Spiti on Sunday. These blocked the roads leading to Karpat and Lobar villages in the region for hours. According to the Lahaul-Spiti district administration, no loss of life and property was reported in this incident. The district administration engaged its workforce and machinery to clear the roads. In the evening, both routes were restored for traffic movement. TNS