Shimla: The cold wave sweeping the state intensified and more snowfall was recorded in the higher reaches of the state where as lower hills received widespread rain for the third day. The prevailing low temperature also claimed two human lives in Kullu district.
A 62 year old, Mangalu Ram succumbed to the cold wave while returning home to Pathohar village in Kullu and Vijay, 35 died in Sultanpur village of Ani, a police spokesman informed.
The meteorological office reported that mid and higher reaches were continuing to experience snowfall where as intermittent showers were recorded at lower elevations.
The cold wave in the high altitude zones of Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba was intense with water sources and lakes freezing up. Temperatures in Spiti had touched minus seventeen (- 17 ) degree Celsius and Dhundi in Kullu recorded 94 centimeters of snow and the temperature plummeted to – 7.5 degree Celsius.
Solang, the tourist spot near Manali recorded 62 cm of snow, said the met office.
By evening Narkanda, a winter sport resort near Shimla, was receiving a fresh round of snow and traffic on the Shimla-Kinnaur highway was partially hindered as the public works authority struggled to keep the road open.
Partial overcast conditions in the state capital did keep the temperatures low, ranging between 8 degree Celsius to 0.9 degree Celsius.
The met office has predicted no respite from the cold over the next 24 hours and light to moderate rains for lower hills have been forecast with more snowfall likely in the higher reaches.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
