PALAMPUR: Entire Knagra valley is in grip of severe cold wave for the past twenty four hours disrupting normal life here. Continued chilly waves had made the lives of people miserable. Most of the busy towns of the valley like Palampur, Kangra Nagrota Bagwan, Baijnath and Paprola had been giving deserted look as after sun set as no one was seen in the streets.
There has been considerable fall in the night temperature as compared to previous years. Experts working on this subject in HP Agriculture university told media persons that state would experience unusual winters and biting cold conditions this year. Kinnaur, Lahual spiti Shimla, Kulu, Knagra ,Chmaba and parts of Mandi district would be worst affected. Most of the local streams which supply water to drinking water supply and irrigation schemes in the state could go dry in January and February . Unusual winters would also adversely hit the fruit, vegetables and other crops.
Acute shortage of essential commodities like LPG, kerosene and fuel wood had further multiplied the problems of the resident here. There is an acute shortage of LPG, kerosene and fuel wood in the region. Despite tall claims of government, most of government owned depots had no stock of kerosene and fuel wood. HP State Forest Corporation had already discontinued the sale of chalcoal in its retail outlets which had made matter worse.
LPG was also in short supply. Indian oil corporation which supply LPG to over eighty percent consumers of the region, had failed to meet the requirement of LPG. Long queues of LPG consumer had become common outside the all LPG distributors here. Police was being called at many places to distribute the LPG. None in the state government was serious to streamline the supply of LPG.
A senior journalist from Palampur.
