File photo: Boys walk down a snow-covered road after snowfall in Shimla. (Press Trust of India)
Rains and thunderstorm today lashed the mid and lower hills of Himachal Pradesh while high altitude tribal areas received fresh snowfall.
The Snowfall disrupted normal life in tribal valleys while heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near Purvani Jhula, 15 km from district headquarter of Kinnaur, blocking the 350 km Hindustan-Tibet National Highway.
High velocity winds, accompanied by sharp showers lashed several areas in the mid and lower hills, including Manali while intermittent rains are continuing in most parts of the state.
Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recorded 15 cm of fresh snow while higher reaches and Rohtang and Kunzam pass had 25 cm to 30 cm of snow, hampering the road clearance work on Manali-Leh National Highway.
Several area in the mid and lower hills saw heavy downpour. Bhandal was the wettest with 120 mm of rains followed by Manali and Kalatop 63 mm each, Dalhousie 55 mm, Kumarsain 26 mm, Saloni and Bhuntar 25 mm, Seobagh 23 mm, Bajaura 22mm, Sarahan 20 mm, Dharamshala 17 mm, Rohru and Bharwara 16 mm, Nurpur 13 mm, Rampur 12 mm, Chail 11 mm, Reckong Peo, Baijnath and Bijahi 10 mm.
There was marginal fluctuation in mercury as Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts were the coldest at night with minimum temperature at 0.8 degree and 0.9 degree while the key tourist resorts of Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla and Dharamshala recorded a low of 2.6, 4.8, 7.2 and 9.4 degree followed by Bhuntar 9.5 degree, Solan 11.5 degree, Una 11.8 degree, Sundernagar recorded 12.5 degree, Nahan 13.6 degree, Hamirpur 13.8 degree and Bilaspur 14.5 degree C.
Maximum temperature has increased by 1 to 2 degree since yesterday.
State capital Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 16.7 degree while Manali recorded 7 degree, Bhuntar 15 degree, Kangra 20.5 degree, Sundernagar, Nahan and Solan 24.5 degree.
Una was recorded as the hottest place in the state with 28 degree C.
The rains and snow have caused extensive damage to wheat, tomato, and vegetable and potato crop while stone fruits also suffered massive damage.
The local MeT office warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms and hailstorm in mid and high hills during next 24 and rains, snow and thunderstorm at isolated placed has added to the anxiety of farmers who are on tenterhooks.