M A I N   N E W S

Rain breaks dry spell in region

CHANDIGARH, Jan 11 (UNI) — Moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches and mild rains at isolated places in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, and drizzle in parts of Punjab and Haryana during the past 24 hours broke the prolonged dry spell besides causing fall in ground temperatures.

The entire northern region of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir continued to shiver under intense cold with the minimum temperature staying 10 to 12 degree celsius below freezing point at Leh, Kargil and Thoise. Srinagar and its surrounding areas received 5.3 mm of rainfall till 8.30 this morning while the minimum temperature stayed around minus one celsius.

Multi-layered clouds hovering over the Ladakh region, Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu portend renewed spells of snowfall or rain during the next two days.

The weather forecasters have warned of heavy rain or snow at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Rain or snow is likely at isolated places in the two states. Light to moderate rain in parts of Punjab and Haryana too has been forecast for the next 48 hours.

High-altitude areas in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts, Bharmour and Pangi valleys in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh reported fresh spells of snowfall today, a report from Shimla said.

Mild snowfall too has been reported from Churdhar ranges in Sirmour district, and the tourist resorts of Narkanda, Baghi, Khandrala in Shimla district. The state's capital Shimla and its surrounding area saw the minimum temperature falling to 4.6 degree celsius from eight degrees celsius yesterday following rain overnight and early today.

The Dhauladhar ranges overlooking Kangra valley experienced heavy snowfall today. Kangra valley was lashed by rain and icy winds which forced the people to stay indoors. A report from Dharamsala said fresh spells of snowfall today on the Dhauladhar ranges and long awaited rains brought great relief to the people from unabated prolonged dry spell in Kangra, Palampur, Shahpur, Baijnath, Jawalamukhi and Nurpur.

Reports of snowfall too have come in from the Triund area, near McLeodganj (Dharamsala), as heavy snowfall was continuing over the Dhauladhar ranges till this evening.

The minimum temperatures at most of the places in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi rose one to four celsius above normal under overcast skies.

Chandigarh and its surrounding areas and Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak in Haryana, Ludhiana and Patiala in Punjab received the first drizzles of the season this morning.

Ambala and Patiala recorded 0.2 mm and 0.7 mm of rainfall, respectively, till 8.30 this morning.

KANGRA (FOC): The Dhauladhar range overlooking Kangra valley experienced its first snowfall on Tuesday after a long dry spell. Kangra valley was lashed by rain accompanied by cold winds, forcing people indoors.

The snow began in the morning. The snow and rain have brought relief to farmers.

At the time of filing of this report it was still snowing on the peaks.

HAMIRPUR (FOC): After a long spell of more than four months, this district experienced light rain on Tuesday morning, bringing relief from the biting cold.

MANALI (FOC): The key tourist resort of Manali experienced the season's first snowfall on Tuesday, while the lower part of Manali was lashed by rain.

The famous skiing slopes of the Solang valley and Kothi also had fresh snowfall.