Light rain and snowfall intensified cold wave in Himachal

Light rain and snowfall occurred on many places in the state in past 24 hrs intensified cold wave condition as it was overcast since this morning. According to Met department high reaches of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Shimla, Kinnaur and Sirmaur and Mandi district received light snowfall. Kalpa, in Kinnuar district had 1.2 cm fresh snow. Light snowfall also recorded in Keylong and Kukemseri. Mashobra had three mm rain, Shimla and Kufri two mm each, Dalhousie and Kukamseri in Lahaul-Spiti one mm. Vehicular traffic was unaffected due to inclement weather on Manali-Darcha (NH-3) and Pangi-Killar state highway-26. However only four by four vehicles are allowed on Killard roads. Truck and Two-wheeler are not permitted on Manali Darcha road and Datcha-Shrinkla road is snowbound. Gramphu-Kaza (NH -505) is also snowbound. Normal life partly affected by the inclement weather and incessant rainfall in few places. Days temperature plummet due to inclement weather. Including three National Highway total 68 roads are snowbound including two NH and 61 roads are disrupted in Lahaul-Spiti district, Three roads of Chamba, two each of Kullu and Kangra are affected by Rain and snowfall. Power Supply was also disrupted in 58 distribution Transformer Region including 46 in Bharmour and 12 in Pooh Subdivision of Kinnuar. Met Office issued yellow alert in isolated places for today and tomorrow.  Thunderstorm, lightning likely to occur at isolated places over low and mid hills of the state on February 28 and Heavy rainfall or snow at isolated places over mid and high hills and Thunderstorm lightning & Hailstorm likely to occur at isolated places over planes/low and mid hills of the state on March 1. Met office forecast widespread rain and snowfall in next 24 hrs in the state. Minimum temperature was slightly above normal in the state as Shimla recorded 8.5 degrees, Bhuntar airport six degrees, Kalpa minus one, Dharamshala 10,Una 9.4,Nahan 14.9, Keylong -3.6,Solan 7.8, Manali three, Kangra 10.4, Mandi 8.3, Bilaspur 12, Hamirpur 8.4, Chamba 9.3, Dalhousie 6.8, Jubberhatti airport 11.4, Tourist resort Kufri 5.1 and Narkanda 2.7 respectively. According to Agriculture experts delayed Rain or Snow would be beneficiary to retain moisture levels in the soils due to prolonged dry spell. The wheat and other Rabi crops also required good spell of rain and snow in the state. It would help to restore the declining water table in the soil.