Orange warning for severe cold wave in lower hills

The local Meteorological office on Tuesday issued an orange warning for severe cold wave conditions at isolated places in the lower hills and plains in four of 12 districts in the state for the next two days.

A severe cold wave is likely to persist at isolated places in Una, Bilapsur, Hamirpur and Mandi districts, with a cold wave in Kangra and ground frost in Kangra and Kullu districts till Saturday, the Met office said.

Meanwhile, the cold conditions continued in Bilapsur while Una, Sundernagar and Hamirpur were under the grip of a severe cold wave and shallow fog was observed in parts of Mandi.

Tabo in Lahaul and Spiti was the coldest at minus 6.5°C while Kukumseri recorded minus 4.6°C, Manali minus 2.1°C, Hamirpur 1.3°C, Sundernagar 0.5°C, Una 0.4 °C and Bilapsur 2.2°C, as per the MeT office data.

Shimla and its suburbs remained warmer with the state capital recording a low of 7.6°C, Jubberhatti 8.3°C and Kufri 6.9°C.

The MeT officer has advised people to wear warm clothes, protect livestock and make necessary arrangements to safeguard crops from cold and frost.

Meanwhile, the post-monsoon rain deficit from October 1 to December 17 stood at 96 per cent, as the state received 2.3 mm of rain against a normal rainfall of 60.5 mm.

The rain deficit in Chamba was 100 per cent, Sirmaur, Bilapsur and Kullu (99 per cent), Kangra and Solan (97 per cent), Shimla (96 per cent), Lahaul and Spiti (94 per cent), Kinnaur and Hamirpur (93 per cent), Mandi (92 per cent) and Una (78 per cent).