Himachal Pradesh state capital town Shimla and tourist resort Manali recorded coldest in this winter season today as the Mercury plunged to minus 3.2 degrees Celsius and minus 6.6 degrees respectively, freezing water pipes and further reeling people to bear extreme cold without power as it could not realtor in the residential areas since past five days after the snowfall.
The minimum temperature plunged by several degrees further, increasing the weather vagaries of the people in the State. During the wee hours commuters have to brave worst situations as they face extremely slippery roads and frozen water pipes in subzero temperature. Many places are still snow bound in district Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahaul Spiti where people are completely cut off from last six days and living without power, water, essentials and in abysmal conditions inside their homes.
The Mercury plunged near near freezing temperature in most places and several degrees below in minus in the high reaches as Keylong was recorded at minus 11.4 degrees, however higher places like Kaza in Spiti valley froze between minus 15 to minus 17 degrees. Kalpa was also cold as minimum temperature decreased to minus 8.6 degrees.
All the glacial bodies like Suraj and Chander Taal and other water fountains have frozen in cold weather, reducing water discharge in the down streams further leaning power generations in the hydal projects of the State. Solan recorded low at minus one degree, Kangra 0.7 degrees, Unà 0.6 degrees, Sundernagar 0.4 degrees, Bhuntar 1.5 degrees, Nahan 3 degrees and Dharamshala 7.2 degrees respectively.
Met Office forecast more rain and snowfall in North Western Himalayan ranges attributed to feeble western disturbance and upper air cyclonic circulation over Jammu & Kashmir and neighborhood has moved away east-northeastwards. it forecasts that fresh Western Disturbance is very likely to affect western Himalayan region. It forecasts more rainfall and snowfall at scattered places on Jan 14 and many places on Jan 15th, 16th and 17th January.
