Fresh spell of snow in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and scattered rains accompanied by icy winds in some other areas brought the temperature down across the hill state today.
While the higher reaches received moderate snowfall, mid and lower hills experienced scattered rains accompanied by strong velocity icy winds.
Rohtang Pass, at the height of 13,050 feet, received30 cms of snow till noon and was closed for vehicular traffic, cutting off the road link between Lahaul, Udaipur and Pangi tribal valleys and the rest of the state.
The key tourist resort of Manali and its upper areas also received moderate snowfall. Manali also received 16 mm of rains, pulling down the minimum temperature to 0.2 degrees C.
Solang Nallah, Mari, Koksar and other tribal areas received 15 cm to 30 cm of snow, aggravating cold wave conditions in theadjoining valley areas. The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur and Chansel, Saach and Kunzam pass also received fresh snowfall.
Strong winds blew across the state capital Shimla while the sky remained heavily overcast with dark clouds, reducing visibility to few meters even during the day.
The minimum temperatures hovered around freezing point in tribal areas and other higher hills while people in high altitude tribal areas groaned under piercing conditions with minimum temperature ranging betweenminus five and minus eight degrees Celsius.
Keylong recorded a low of minus 0.7 degree C, followed by Kalpa zero degree C, Manali 0.2 degree C, Dalhousie 1.5 degree C, Una 4.0 degree C, Shimla 4.3 degree C, Palampur 7.0 degree C, Bhuntar 7.5 degree C, Solan 8.2 degree C, Dharamsala 8.8 degree C, Sundernagar 10.1 degree C and Nahan 12.4 degree C.
Also, Banjar in Kullu district recorded 14 mm of rainfall and Seobagh andBhoranj 13 mm, followed by Rampur, Hamirpur andMandi 12 mm each, Bhuntar 10 mm each, Saloni Sundernagar and Gohar 9 mm each, Jubbarhatti, Kumarsain andDalhousie 8 mm each, according to the weatherman.
Shimla received 5 mm rains while Solan had 4 mm rains.
The maximum temperatures also dropped by 3-5 degrees with Kalpa being the coldest during the day recording a maximum of 3.2 degrees C, and Una the warmest at 26.2 degree C.
Shimla recorded a maximumof 10.2 degrees C, followed by Sundernagar 14.7 degrees C, Bhuntar 16.2 degrees C, Solan, Dharamsala and Nahan 17.5, 17.6 and 17.7 degree C respectively.
The rains and snow have, however, brought cheers to hoteliers in Manali and adjoining areas as snowfall has coincided with the winter tourist season. The rains too may prove beneficial for farmers for sowing of Rabi crop.
