The icy winds shiver Himachal Pradesh today despite clear weather during day, night temperature receded further affecting the normal life in high altitude, which is already under grip of extreme cold weather and snapping apart due to heavy snowfall.
The mercury plunged to season’s lowest level today at Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul & Spiti district recorded low at minus 5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile two HRTC services plying between Manali and Keylong had to be suspended today after freezing of snowy water on the Rohtang Pass. Report said that bus services would keep off for some time as road becomes slippery and not fit to run the services. Similarly Lahaul & Spiti valleys were also cut off from each other and rest of the country following heavy snowfall on the Kunzum Pass also disrupting Manali-Kaza road for the vehicular traffic. Except light vehicle road communication of Lahaul is completely off with the rest of nation but people living in the Spiti valley could come out from snowline via Kinnuar district. Strategic Manali-Leh road was already off for vehicular traffic as snowfall mounted on the Barlacha Pass and other Pass. The communication link with Killar and Millar valley in Pangi and Chamba district has been snapped yesterday after closing of Sach Pass which had heavy snowfall.
Most of roads are still open in Kinnaur district but snowline areas like Chitkul bordering village have been affected from the frequent spell of snowfall. The mercury at Kalpa was recorded minus 2.2 degrees Celsius last night which was 2 degrees below normal. Tourists resort Manali was minus 1.3 degrees, Bhuntar and Solan were low at 2.4 degrees each, Sundernagar in Mandi district 2.8 degrees, Mandi 4 degrees and Shimla 4.5 degrees, Una 6 degrees, Nahan 8 degrees and Dharamshala 8.8 degrees respectively.
The Met office forecast mainly dry weather in the state for next 24 hrs.
