Shimla:
Several areas of Himachal including state capital Shimla and surrounding areas were on Sunday lashed by hailstorm followed by intermittent rains while higher hills had another spell of moderate snowfall, causing sharp fall in mercury.
Avalanche threat loomed large over tribal areas and higher reaches in Chamba district and four houses were reportedly damaged in avalanche in remote Bara Bhangal area in Kangra district while a wooden house was burnt in lightening in village Bandal Surakh in Sirmaur district.
The Panchayat president of Bara Bhangal Chunni Lal informed about the avalanche while additional SP Sirmour N S Negi confirmed the lightening incident in Sirmaur.
The higher reaches and tribal areas had another spell of fresh snowfall while mid and lower hills were lashed by high velocity icy winds accompanied by intermittent rains and hail.
The local MeT office has predicted heavy rains, snow and hailstorm at isolated places in the state tomorrow and another spell of snow and rains from March 12 onwards.
Kalpa and Keylong in tribal Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded 18 cm and 5 cm of fresh snow while Rohtang and Kunzam passes had 30 cm of snow.
The mid and lower hills had widespread rains and Dalhousie, Saloni and Chamba recorded 19 mm, 17mm and 15 mm of rains, followed by Dharamshala 12 mm, Dharampur and Manali 10 mm each, Kumarsain, Solan and Joginder Nagar 8 mm, Nahan 7 mm and Shimla 4 mm.
The hailstorm caused damage to stonefruit crops, which is at flowering stage in lower areas of Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts.
The high altitude tribal areas and mountain passes reeled under fierce cold wave conditions with minimum temperature ranging between minus 16 and minus 24 degree C while Keylong was coldest at night with minus 9.1 degree closely followed by Kalpa minus 9. 0 degree.
The key tourist destinations of Manali, Dalhousie and Shimla shivered at 1.0 degree, 1.4 degree and 2.9 degree C respectively while Solan recorded a minimum of 5.2 deegree, followed by Una 5.5 degree, Bhuntar 5.8 degree, Sundernagar 6.1 degree, Hamirpur 6.5 degree, Chamba 6.7 degree, Mandi 8.3 degree, Dharamshala 8.6 degree and Nahan 10.7 degree C.
The maximum day temperatures dropped by few notches and Una recorded a high of 23.3 degree, followed by Sundernagar 19.8 deegree, Nahan 18.9 degree, Dharamshala 16.4 degree, Bhunter 16.0 degree, Solan 15.0 degree Shimla 12.2 degree, Manali 9.4 degree and Kalpa 3.2 degree C.
