The cold wave continues in snowbound Himachal Pradesh as mercury was many degrees below freezing point, despite of clear weather. As snow was thawing in the state, long icicles were formed as there was enough snow on the roofs and on the roads.
Life is still snowbound in this capital town, and other tourist resorts like Manali, Kufri, Narkanda, Theog and Mashobra. About dozen of tourists have been reportedly stranded at Narkanda for last seven days seeking assistance from authority to evacuate them. Vehicular traffic partly restored in the state as no public transport was on the road beyond Theog. Many areas of the state remained snowbound without power, water supply and communication link. About 18 people were airlifted who have been stranded at Kinnaur from Reckong Peo and Rampur to Kaza and Kolic helipad in Lahaul & Spiti yesterday, however, three more people were still stranded at Rampur and Reckong Peo.
Minimum temperature of Keylong was minus 13 degrees Celcius followed by Kalpa in Kinnaur at minus 8 degrees, Manali minus 4 degrees, Bhuntar in Kullu district minus 0.3 degrees, Solan town was at 0.8 degrees, Sundernagar at 1 degrees, Shimla 2 degrees, Saluni in Chamba district and Palampur in Kangra district 2.5 degrees each, Una 3 degrees and Dharamshala 4.4 degrees.
The Met office forecast mainly dry weather in the state for next 24 hours.