HP in grip of cold-wave: Freezing temperatures, wet conditions blanket the State
Shimla, Dec 4
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PLUMMETING MERCURY has sent a shivering coldwave across the state, forcing people to pull out warm wear and thermal clothes in Himachal Pradesh.
The Shimla Mall Road, Ridge, and IGMC to Sanjauli college area experienced a spell of white sleet in the afternoon and evening. Dark clouds have been hovering in the sky since morning. The minimum temperature of Keylong, the headquarters of Lahaul Spiti, was the coldest of this season at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, and Kalpa in Kinnaur recorded minus 2.5 degrees. Tourist favourites Kufri, Manali, and Narkanda are also under the grip of an extreme cold wave, with night temperatures staying near two to three degrees below normal, a drop of four to five degrees.
The tourist resort Kufri had two spells of white sleet and also recorded 2.3 mm of rainfall. Visibility decreased sharply in the capital town, leading to two road accidents and six deaths today. The Mall Road and Ridge had a deserted look throughout the day due to frequent spells of rain and snowfall.
According to the Met Office, high reaches of Manali, Dhundi, and North and South poles of the Atal Rohtang Tunnel experienced snowfall this afternoon. The capital town Shimla, tourist resort Kufri, Narkanda, and Masobra had thick layers of sleet, further dipping the mercury. The administration has deployed snow cutters to keep the Old Hindustan Tibet National Highway open. The Lahaul Spiti district administration has also issued a traffic advisory on the NH-03 and other local roads. According to the administration, water bodies, including Suraj Tal and Chandratal in the snowlines above 10,000 ft, have frozen. It was snowing on the 13050 ft Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass, Jalori Jot, Sachpass, and Baralacha and other places in the state.
Keeping in view of the road and weather conditions in the district and also due to freezing temperatures leading to the formation of the black Ice phenomenon and slippery NH-3, the road may be periodically closed for vehicular traffic. The district administration said that all locals and Pangi-bound vehicles are allowed without restrictions. However, only four by four tourists’ vehicles are allowed to enter the Lahaul Spiti district via Atal Tunnel Rohtang and vice versa from 0900 hrs to 1500 hrs until further notice.
The Police Department of Lahaul Spiti would oversee traffic management and coordinate with the district Kullu. Due to inclement local weather, tourists are advised to be very cautious while traveling in the valley. In case of snowfall, they are requested to move to safe places and stay there. All hotel and homestay owners are also requested to advise their guests accordingly.
