M A I N   N E W S

Cold wave unabated in HP
Ludhiana coldest in Punjab

Shimla, December 26
The intense cold wave sweeping mid and higher hills of Himachal continued unabated as higher reaches in the tribal areas had another spell of fresh snowfall.

The tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti; Pangi and Hangrang reeled under piercing cold-wave conditions as minimum temperature ranged between minus 10 and minus 14°C.

All natural lakes and ponds, including the Surjtal, Chandra Tal and Nako Lakes and a 70-km stretch of the Chandra-Bhaga river were frozen, causing a sharp fall in the discharge of water in the snowfed Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers.

The mid-hills, including Shimla and the adjoining tourist resorts of Kufri, Fagu and Wildflower Hall, also shivered under cold wave conditions as the minimum temperature dropped from 4.4°C to 2.7°C.

The pale sun which played hide and seek throughout the day failed to warm up the region and thousands of tourists who had thronged the state capital were disappointed as the snowfall eluded the region.

The Kangra, Kulu-Chamba, Sundernagar and Paonta valleys also shivered under cold-wave conditions as mercury registered a sharp fall and strong velocity icy winds continued to sweep the region.

Fogs caused delay in the normal running of train services and disrupted flights in the north-west region.

The day temperatures dipped by 2 to 4°C degrees below normal, with Hisar in Haryana recording the high at 14.4°C, followed by Ambala (17.6°C).

Ludhiana, which recorded a normal of 5°C, had the day temperatures plummeting to 19.2°C and Patiala to 18.5°C after the minimum dipped to 6.9 °C. Amritsar was cooler at 19.2°C and 7.4°C in the high and low, respectively.

The maximum and minimum temperature in and around Chandigarh were recorded at 20.8°C and 9°C. PTI, UNI