Intense cold wave conditions continue in HP

Intense cold wave sweeping the hills and valleys of Himachal Pradesh continued unabated today with minimum temperatures hovering around freezing point at several places in the state.
The high-altitude tribal areas groaned under biting cold wave conditions with mercury settling between minus eight and minus 13 degrees Celsius.
Natural water sources in high altitude tribal areas like lakes, springs, rivulets, tributaries of major rivers and 70-km stretch of Chandrabhaga river remained frozen, drastically reducing discharge of water in snowfed Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers, affecting hydropower generation.
Prolonged dry spell with 93 per cent rain deficit from October 1 and December 15 continues in the region, adding to anxiety of farmers.

The rainfall eluded the region despite the cloudy sky today.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded minimum temperature at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, while key tourist resort of Manali shivered at zero degrees Celsius and Kalpa and Bhuntar recorded a low of 1.0 degrees Celsius, followed by Solan and Sundernagar each 2.5 degrees Celsius, Palampur 4.5 degrees Celsius, Shimla 5.6 degrees Celsius, Una 6.0 degrees Celsius, Nahan 8.5 degrees Celsius and Dharamsala 10.0 degrees Celsius.

The day temperatures also dropped marginally and Una, which was hottest in the region, recordedmaximum temperature at 22.0 degrees Celsius, a drop of three degrees since yesterday.

Solan recorded a high of 20.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Dharamshala 18.2 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 17.6 degrees Celsius, Nahan 16.9 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 16.6 degrees Celsius, Shimla 15.6 degrees Celsius, Manali 14.0 degrees Celsius and Kalpa 12.4 degrees Celsius.
The farmers are a worried lot as continued dry spell would be harmful for Rabi crop, especially wheat.
About 80 per cent Rabi sowing has been completed and in case the rains get further delayed,crop prospects would be badly hit, said sources in the Agriculture Department.
Meanwhile, the local MeT department has predicted dry weather in the region over the next six days.