Shimla, January 14
Kufri and upper areas of Shimla district had snow this morning resulting in a cold wave.
Tourists enjoyed the snow at Kufri while roads were closed at many places in the interior areas.
The highway near Kufri remained closed. Reports of snow at Narkanda, Kharapatthar and other places have been received.
The town had intermittent rain as snow continued to elude the state capital which has not had snow this winter. Apple growers are worried as this would hit their crops.
Reports said the upper
reaches of Kulu, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts had fresh snow. The Dhauladhars in Kangra district also had snow.
Palampur and its adjoining areas have been experiencing rain and snow since last night.
Rain and snow disrupted life in the valley. Vehicular traffic to Chhota Bhangal has been suspended following heavy snow at Kothi Kohar.
Air service between Delhi-Shimla-Kulu was suspended and the 320-km Hindustan-Tibet national highway closed. Vehicular traffic to Rampur and Peo was being diverted via Basantpur and Kingal, official sources said. Solang Nalla recorded 15 cm of snowfall while Manali had 5 cm of snowfall.
Rohtang Pass had another spell of heavy snow. Kulu, Kangra and Pangi valley in Chamba district also experienced heavy snow.
All natural sources of water, including lakes, springs and rivulets, Surajtal and Chandratal and 70 km stretch of Chandrabhaga and Spiti rivers were frozen, reducing the discharge of water in the Sutlej and the Beas.
Upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced heavy snow.
Border areas of Karnah, Keran, Gurez and Teetwal had about 3 feet of snow during the past 24 hours, disrupting life.
These areas were cut off from the rest of the state due to the closure of roads.
Reports of snow were also received from Gulmarg, Khilanmarg and other tourist spots.
There was about 1-3 feet of fresh snowfall at Amarnath Cave, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pissutop during the past two days.
Most of the places in Punjab and Haryana, which had been experiencing spine-curdling temperatures, saw the minimum rising appreciably above normal today.
Amritsar which had been the coldest in plains reported the low rising to 10.6°C, 7 degrees above normal while Patiala and Ludhiana with 14°C and 12°C were hotter by eight and five degrees today.
Hisar in Haryana reported a low of 14.3°C, plus nine degrees, and Delhi four degrees above normal at 11.5°C.
