By:Mohan Lal Verma
With receding monsoon lashing the state, 13050 feet high Rohtang Pass experienced fresh snowfall, while other places across the state received light to moderate rain today.
Day temperatures plummeted at various places, including Shimla where the day temperature decreased by four to five degrees Celsius. The capital town got rain that continued throughout the day. For the last two days Kullu district has received incessant rains, which has again plummeted the temperature.
Meanwhile the high hills of tribal district Lahaul-Spiti and Rohtang Pass received mild snowfall. Generally occurrence of snowfall at Rohtang Pass is considered a boon for tourism industry in the district, which attracts tourists but however, this time people associated with tourism industry think otherwise.
Kullu-Manali hoteliers association president Mr. Anup Thakur said, “Hoteliers are facing sharp decline in tourists arrival in the district and there is merely 15%occupancy in the hotel rooms of Kullu-Manali.”
“Meanwhile, retreating monsoon also provided relief to the Kharif farmers, especially those cultivating paddy crop. Around 40% of paddy crop required moisture in September month before harvesting. And so the weather was almost favorable and current rainfall has elated the agrarian community” an agriculture department official told Himvani.
Shimla Meteorological Centre Director Mr. Manmohan Singh said light to heavy rains would occur at many places in next three to four days. Monsoon has revived in the region and more rains are in offing.
He also said that the day temperature has also decreased in the state by 4 to 5 degree Celsius at some places and so far there is deficit of 31% during the monsoon season in the state. Himachal Pradesh has however received 553.8mm of rainfall against the normal mark of 804mm.
