Shimla: Snow, rain and sleet kept most tourists and residents across the state indoors as the cold wave intensified over the region with several destinations reporting moderate to heavy snowfall through the night and the day.
Lower hill were pounded by incessant rain, breaking a long dry spell, which has proved a boon to the farming community.
“Moderate to heavy snow has been reported from Manali, Solang, Keylong, Patseo, Kalpa, Sangla, Udaipur, Narkanda, Kufri and Kharapattar,†said met director Manmohan Singh. “Manali has received about 22 cm of snow whereas Solang has about 15 cm of snow,†he said.
Rain with mixed showers of sleet, kept temperature low in Shimla, forcing tourists to hover around gas fireplaces or electric heaters to survive the prevailing cold conditions.
“We have received over 15 cms of snow,†said Narinder Sharma, over phone from Narkanda. The years skiing season’s here will get off to a good start soon,†he added.
Kufri (15 Kms from here) by evening had recorded about 15 cms of snow by the evening. Braving cold weather, some tourists did venture out to Kufri to witness a snowfall.
Having spent the day with friends throwing snowballs and sending pictures on a blackberry phone, Anel Sharma, a software engineer from Delhi said, “even though it was bitingly cold, getting to witness a snowfall was worth it all.â€
Those staying put out in hotels close to Shimla at Charabbra, Kufri, Galu and Fagu, the snow cover changed the landscape from brown and green to a white one.
As snow evaded Shimla, many who spent the day indoors because of the wet conditions were a disappointed lot.
Out on a honeymoon, Shweta Mehra complained, “have been looking out for the magic flakes all day long.†Sounding optimistic, Sudhir, her husband intervened, “they forecasted snow, we may just be lucky out here.
The Shimla airport authorities reported that flights between Delhi-Shimla-Delhi for Thursday were canceled because of the rainy weather conditions.
Besides Shimla, moderate rainfall was recorded at the Dharmshala, Palampur, Una, Solan, Kullu, Kasauli, Sundernagar and Mandi weather stations, the met office said.
The regions lowest night temperatures was recorded in Keylong at – 1.9 degree Celsius and with a day high of 4.5 degree Celsius. In Kalpa, the minimum was -0.7 and the high was 3.9 degree Celsius and in Shimla, the minimum was 4.1 and the high was 10.5 degree Celsius.
The weatherman has forecast more rain and snow over the next 24 hours before the intensity of the western disturbance over the region tapers off.
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.
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