Shimla: More snowfall in the state capital and higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh Monday intensified cold wave conditions in the state.

"Popular tourist spot - and state capital - Shimla received snowfall last (Sunday) night and this (Monday) afternoon, plummeting the minimum temperature to 1.2 degrees Celsius in comparison to 1.7 degrees Celsius Sunday," Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

The minimum temperature was 5.7 degrees Celsius Saturday.

According to him, about four centimetres snowfall had been recorded in Shimla since Sunday night.

Lower areas of the town experienced light rain throughout the day.

Tourist spots near Shimla, like honeymooner's paradise Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda also experienced fresh snowfall, triggering a rush of tourists there.

According to the meteorological office, while Kufri received six centimetres of snow, Narkanda had seven.

The Rohtang Pass, located at an altitude of 13,500 feet in Kullu district, has so far received around two metres of snow, while popular tourist resort Manali received about 7.5 cm snowfall along with rain Monday.

"Manali and its nearby areas had good spell of snowfall in the early hours of Monday," Singh said.

The tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba received light to moderate snowfall during the night and the weather remained cloudy.

The minimum temperature at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was recorded at minus 7.8 degrees Celsius and maximum at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district also recorded a minimum of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature at Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which received 1.6 mm rainfall, was low at 4.9 degrees Celsius.

The mid and lower hills received light to moderate rainfall while cold wave swept across Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una districts.

The Met office has forecast widespread rain and snow in the state during next 24 hours.

 

Source : IANS