Cold conditions further aggravated in Himachal Pradesh and several areas were were cut off as tribal areas and other high mountain ranges experienced moderate to heavy snowfall while mid and lower hills received widespread heavy rains.
Rohtang Pass and Jalori pass were closed due to fresh heavy snowfall and Lahaul, Udaipur, Pangi and Bharmaur tribal valleys were cut-off from rest of the state while the Rampur- Ani-Kullu road was blocked due to closure of Jalori Pass.
Key tourist resorts of Dalhousie, Manali, Narkanda and Sarahan received moderate snowfall, Shimla and its surrounding resorts of Mashobra, Wildflower Hall and Kufri were lashed by heavy intermittent rains, punctuated by sleet and hail, causing a sharp fall in mercury.
The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur, Chansel, Saach, Kunzam and other high mountain passes experienced another spell of heavy snowfall whileadjoining lower ranges received moderate snowfall.
Kinner Kailash, Kalpa, Chitkul, Pooh andNamgyain Kinnaur district, Keylong, Saptrishi hills, Goshal hills Koksar, Udaipur and Darcha in Lahaul and Spiti district, Sarahan, Narkanda and Khara Patthar in Shimla district and Bharmaur, Pangi and higher reaches in Chamba and Solang, Mari and Rohtang in Kullu district experienced moderate snowfall.
Manali received 15 cm of snow even as Keylong, Solang, Mari and Rohtang Pass recorded 45 cm, 40 cm, 60 cm and 110 cm of snow respectively. Dalhousie and upper areas of Chamba and Dharamshala and Khara-Patthar received 15 cm of snow.
Icy winds swept the region causing a sharp fall in day temperatures and Kalpa and Shimla recorded a high of 2.2 degrees Celsius and 6.6 degrees, followed by Bhuntar 9.8 degrees, Sundernagar 10.8 degrees, Solan 11 degrees, Nahan 13.6 degrees, Dharamsala 14.2 degrees and Una 18.2 degrees, a drop offive to eight degrees.
The minimum temperatures stayed below normal with
Dalhousie, Kalpa and Keylong recording a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees and 1 degrees respectively. Manali, Una and Solan recorded lows of 3.8 degrees Celsius, 4.8 degrees and 5 degrees, followed by Shimla 5.2 degrees, Palampur 6 degrees, Dharamsala 7.2 degrees, Sundernagar 9.1 degrees and Nahan 10.1 degrees Celsius.
Kalpashivered at 2.2 degrees Celsius while maximum temperature dipped to 6.6 degrees in Shimla, followed by Bhuntar 9.8 degrees, Sundernagar 10.8 degrees, Solan 11 degrees, Nahan 13.6 degrees, Dharamsala 14.2 degrees and Una 18.2 degrees.
Heavy rains lashed the region and Dharamsala was the wettest with 63 mm rain. Manali and Sundernagar recorded 55 mm and 51 mm rains, followed by Saluni 50 mm, Tissa 45 mm, Dalhousie 40 mm, GaggalandChamb33 mm , Kahu 32 mm, Palampur andJhandutta 30 mm, Nadaun and Bhuntar 29 mm and 28 mm.
The rains which broke the dry spell has brought cheers to farmers as it would prove to be a boon for Rabi crop and provide much needed moisture to the soil.
The rains have reduced the average rain deficit from October 1 to December 11 to 34 from 51 yesterday.
