Shimla: The higher altitude areas of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnuar districts of Himachal Pradesh are experiencing snow, while lower areas were lashed by rain, plummeting temperatures in the state, the met office said. The higher altitude areas of the twin districts are experiencing snow since this morning and the met office said Patsio in Lahaul Spiti had recorded about 17 cm of snow by 1630 hrs.
It said several mountain peaks and passes are also receiving snowfall for the last few days following which the entire tribal areas and other surrounding areas were under intense coldwave conditions.
Several important roads and passes, including Rohtang Pass and Baralachala Pass, had also received snow during the past few days following which the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has informed that Manali-Sarchu and Tandi-Killar-Sansari roads would be closed for vehicular traffic from October 31, this year. It said that the extreme weather conditions and heavy snowfall does not allow movement of vehicles during the winter season.
Since BRO would not be in a position to to carry out any snow clearing operations or evacuate anyone after October 31, the local people are advised not try crossing over these passes during the winters, it said. The met office said thick clouds were also hovering the Kullu and Chamba districts of the state, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures across the state plummeted due to snow at higher reaches, though a few places in the mid hills recorded a marginal increase in the maximum temperature during the day, the met office said. The night temperature at Shimla dropped to 11.5 degrees from yesterday’s low of 12.4 degree Celsius, while Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Dharamshala recorded night temperatures of 11.5, 12.8 and 16 degree Celsius as against 13.5, 15 and 17.1 degree Celsius recorded yesterday.
The met office said the minimum temperature at Kalpa dropped further to three degrees, while the maximum plummeted to 12.9 degrees from yesterday’s high of 18.9 degree Celsius after three mm rain during the day.
Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Dharamshala recorded a day temperature of 31.4, 27.6 and 27.4 degree Celsius respectively, it said.
The met office has forecast more snow and rain in the higher altitude areas of the tribal districts of the state during the next 24 hrs.
