Chandigarh, November 17
Most of the northern region was today under the grip of cold conditions following widespread rain in plains and snowfall in upper reaches.
Many parts of Himachal Pradesh were reeling under bone-chilling cold with minimum at Shimla dropping to 3°C after hail and rain (14.6 mm) lashed the town, according to the Meteorological Centre here. The Hatoo Peak, Narkanda, Shali Tibba, Chanshal slopes and other high mountains in upper Shimla region also had intermittent snow.
Bhang in Manali experienced 2 cm of snow until this morning while Solang Nullah (5 cm), Dhundi (30 cm) and Patsio (2 cm) were also covered by a thick white blanket.
Tribal areas of Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi also received snowfall for the fourth consecutive day today.
Bhuntar (5°C) and Sundernagar (6.6°C) had a cold night after being lashed by showers.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the people in Srinagar reeled under piercing cold as the low there dropped to 2.5°C after the city was lashed by 9.6 mm of rain. Jammu was lashed by 20.9 mm of rain and the low there touched 12.3°C.
Chandigarh continued to witness an overcast sky for the third consecutive day and the minimum here dropped to 11.8°C. The rainfall was measured at 2 mm.
Ambala (10.6°C) and Hisar also had some light rains.
Amritsar was lashed by heavy rain at 19.8 mm and the minimum dropped to 8.5°C. Patiala and Ludhiana also experienced some cold weather after receiving some light rain.
The holy shrine of
Vaishno Devi and the famous hill resort of Patnitop experienced the season’s first snowfall overnight as rains lashed Jammu plummeting mercury.
About 6 inches to 1 ft of snow accumulated on Trikuta hills where Vaishnodevi shrine is located, officials said here today.
Patnitop was covered with 1 ft to 2 ft of snow. Upper reaches in Pir Panjal ranges also had snowfall which was still continuing.
Meanwhile, 190 tourists, who were stranded at Marhi, yesterday 35 km from here, were rescued last night and today.
According to Mr R.K. Gautam, SDM, Manali, last evening a rescue team of the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, informed the local police about the stranded tourists. Mr Gautan accompanied by Mr Ashwani Sood, tehsildar, police personnel, a team of the mountaineering institute and local taxi operators reached the spot yesterday and started relief operations. He said they were able to rescue nearly 150 tourists last night and rest of the tourists were rescued early this morning. Still a number of vehicles, including buses, were stranded between Marhi and Rohtang Pass.
While upper reaches of Dhauladhar experienced first round of snowfall this morning, lower reaches were lashed by intermittent rain.
The Bara Bhangal area of this region had light to heavy snow. According to reports, 30 cm of snow was recorded at Thasarpass this afternoon, while 20 cm of snow at Rajgundha, near Billing.
Traffic to Kothi Kohar and Bara Gram area has been suspended due to heavy snow.
