M A I N   N E W S

Snow, rain bring cheer
Tribune Reporters

Shimla, January 28
Widespread snow and rain broke the prolonged dry spell, bringing cheer to farmers and fruit growers, who had been reeling under a drought like situation in the region.

While Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Manali, Narkanda, Churdhar and the Dhauladhar range, have been receiving incessant snow since last night, the lower areas experienced intermittent rain. Kharapathar, Narkanda and the surrounding areas had received 20 cm to 30 cm of snow by the afternoon. As a result, Rohru, Chopal and other areas in upper Shimla have been cut off. The nearby tourist resort of Kufri also had moderate snow.

The Solang ski slopes in Manali were under knee-deep snow and the Dhauladhar ranges overlooking the Kangra valley wore an impeccable white mantel.

Vehicular traffic to upper Shimla and Kinnaur was disrupted as snow blocked the Hindustan-Tibet road at several places. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation has diverted its Rampur and Kinnaur-bound buses via Basantpur.

MANALI: The tourist town of Manali today experienced the first snowfall of the winter season while the lower areas were lashed by rain.

Icy winds lashed the region throughout the day, intensifying the cold wave and forcing the local residents to remain indoors. The higher reaches of the Kulu valley, including the Pir Panjal range and the 13,050-ft high Rohtang pass, Marhi, Gulaba, Kothi and Dhundhi experienced moderate-to-heavy snowfall. The famous ski slopes of the Solang nullah also recorded about one foot snow.

In Manali, the tourists ventured out to enjoy the snow. The snow and rain will be beneficial to horticulturists and agriculturists, specially apple growers.

HAMIRPUR: Various parts of the district received welcome showers today and last night, giving relief to farmers. The rains are also likely to help improve the water supply as most of the water sources had started drying up.

Reports of intermittent rain were also received from Kumarhatti and Nurpur.

CHANDIGARH: The plains of Punjab and Haryana were lashed by rains during the past one day.

Chandigarh (8.4 mm) and its adjoining areas, including Mohali and Panchkula (8.6 mm), were also lashed by rain. The city witnessed an overcast sky during the day, but the night temperature increased to settle at 8.2 C.

In Punjab, Amritsar (7 mm), Ludhiana (19.8 mm), Patiala (5 mm) and the Nangal Dam area (20 .0 mm) were among some of the places lashed by rains while the minimum temperatures witnessed a marginal increase. Hoshiarpur and Phagwarea also had rain.

Many stations in Haryana also reported rains. Ambala (10.8 mm), Hisar (3.8 mm), Kalka (7 mm) besides Narnaul, Rewari and Rohtak were lashed by rain.

Rain also lashed parts of the Kashmir Valley, with Srinagar getting 5.9 mm of rain, even as the minimum temperature there

witnessed a slight increase at 0.6° C. Jammu was also lashed by rain at 2.2 mm.

The Met Office has forecast rain or snow at many places in Himachal, while rain is likely at some places in Punjab and Haryana over the next two days.