HimVani
Shimla (Jan 2): Icy winds blowing down from snow-capped Himalayan ranges of Himachal Pradesh forced Mercury to plunge drastically in the state over the past 12 hours. Keylong, headquarter of Lahaul Spiti recorded season’s coldest at minus 13 degree Celsius, Indian Meteorological Department official told HimVani.
IMD state incharge Manmohan Singh said that Kalpa of Kinnaur was at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. Solan was low at minus 1.5 degrees, Sundernagar in Mandi minus 1.3 degrees and Bhunter in Kullu minus 0.3 degrees, Shimla at 1.7 degrees, Nahan in Sirmuur, Palampur in Kangra and Mandi 2 degrees each, Dharamsala in Kangra 3.5 degrees and Una 5 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, snowy road and freezing of water on some points at Kufri, Narkanda, Kharapathar and Chopal created problem in smooth movement of traffic, which could not be restored till the filing of this report. Despite traffic jams, tourists have still been enjoying snow sports along roadsides in Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and McLeodganj areas.
The Met office forecast mainly dry weather in the state and rising in the day temperature in the next 24 hours.
