Cold intensifies in HP; Avalanche alert in high altitude areas

Avalanche threat loomed large over high altitude tribal areas and people have been advised to stay indoors as biting cold wave conditions prevailed in Himachal Pradesh in spite of marginal rise in temperature.

The high altitude tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur, RohtangPass, Churdhar and Dhauladhar reaches are experiencing intermittent snow fall since on Wednesday morning.

Manali Sub-Divisional Magistrat Vinay Dhiman has warned the people to stay indoors and not venture out during the day time as avalanche threat looming large over the region could aggravate with rise in mercury after the snowfall.

The Manali and Dalhousie had mild snowfall while high altitude tribal areas and high mountains and Rohtang pass has intermittent heavy snow fall, a MeT official said.

Rohtang recorded 60 cm of snow while Solang Nallah, Keylong and other higher hills received 10 cm of fresh snow. Biting cold wave conditions persisted in the region even as minimum temperature increased by few notches as strong velocity icy winds lashed the mid and lower hills.

Bharmaur in tribal area of chamba recorded minimum temperature at minus 12.1 degrees Celsius, while Keylong and Kalpa in twin tribal districts of Lahaul and spiti and Kinnaur, recorded a low of minus 9.7 and minus 4.0 deg C, followed by Dalhousie 1.2 degrees and Manali 2.0 degree against minus 5.3 degrees on Tuesday.

Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded minimum temperature at 2.6 deg C and 3.2 deg C while Solan and Shimla recorded a low of 3.0 deg and 3.1 deg, followed by Palampur 3.5 deg, Nahan and Una 5.0 deg and Dharamsala 6.0 deg C.

However, the maximum day temperatures increased marginally and Solan was warmest in the region during the day with a high of 17.5 deg C, followed by Una 17.0 deg, Nahan 15.4 deg, Sundernagar 15.2 deg, Dharamshala 12.4 deg, Shimla 13.2 deg, Bhunter 08.4 deg and Kalpa 0.8 deg C.

The local, Meteorological office has predicted heavy to very heavy snowfall at some places during the next 24 hours.