Massive hailstorm and rains lashed many parts of Himachal Pradesh throwing normal life out of gear and plummeting mercury upto 13 degree Celsius.
Shimla received 51 mm of rains while Dharamsala and Kangra were drenched with 58 mm and 61 mm rains within five hours.
Shimla recorded a high of 24.4 degree Celsius against 30.0 deg C yesterday, while Manali recorded minimum temperature at 13.6 deg C against 25.2 deg C yesterday, a drop of 12 degree.
Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Shimla town as most of the roads and posh Mall Road were filled with stones, mud debris and filth as choked drains overflowed on main roads.
The high altitude tribal areas received another spell of moderate snow and Rohtang Pass was closed again for traffic.
Heavy downpour, followed by hailstorm in the evening, forced people to rush indoors. A sudden fall in mercury forced tourists to put on heavy woollens.
The Himachal Roadways buses from Keylong to Manali had to return midway.
Sundernagar recorded 20 mm of rains, followed by Bhuntar 16 mm and Manali 15 mm.
Paonta Sahib recorded 20 mm of rains followed by Chamba 16 mm, Baldwara 12 mm, Kalatop 9 mm, Sainj 7 mm and Bilaspur 4 mm.
The farmers are worried as hailstorm and heavy rains are considered damaging for apple and other fruit crops.
The local Meteorological department has predicted rains or thunderstorm at some places in mid and higher hills tomorrow and dry weather from Tuesday onwards.
