Shimla: Heavy rains and snow in Himachal Pradesh cut off several areas in upper Shimla and Kinnaur region, disrupting life in the hill state.
The state remained engulfed in thick fog and high velocity icy winds swept most areas, causing sharp fall in the day temperature.
Hindustan-Tibet National highway was closed beyond Shimla due to heavy snow at Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda and traffic to Rampur and lower areas of Kinnaur was diverted via Dhami-Basantpur-Kingal road.
The highways connecting Chopal, Rohroo and Nerwa areas of Shimla were closed due to heavy snow at Fagu and Khara Patthar and power supply was disrupted in parts of Kinnaur district.
The state capital Shimla received 15 cm of snow while tourists resort of Manali had 40 cm of snow till this evening and snowfall was continuing, the Met officials said.
Moorang, Chitkul, Kalpa and other higher reaches in tribal Kinnaur districts received 120 to 150 cm of fresh snow while Narkanda, Khara-Patthar, Malling and Pooh received 50 cm to 70 cm of snow.
The mighty Dhauladhar and Churdhar ranges in Kangra and Dharamsala and high mountain passes of Rohtang, Kunzam, Saach and Chansel are experiencing heavy Snowfall since last evening and 70 cm to 110 cm of snow had been recorded till 5.00 PM.
While high altitude tribal areas are experiencing continuous heavy snowfall, Keylong and Koksar recorded 40 cm of snow while Solang Nallah and Mari had 45 cm and 65 cm of fresh snow.
Saluni recorded 45 cm of snow while Bharmaur and Kalpa had 40 cm of snow followed by Chhatrarri 38 cm, Theog 35 cm and Tissa 32 cm.
Lower hills were soaked with rains and Jubbal recorded 100 mm, followed by Dharamshala 51 mm, Gohar 47 mm, Kheri 45 mm, Nahan and Dharmpur 30 mm, Baijnath and Palampur 32 mm, Gaggal, Seobagh, Bhuntar and Joginder Nagar 29 mm, Solan 23 mm and shimla 18.5 mm.
Day temperature fell in most parts of the state.
Kalpa recorded maximum temperature at minus 0.6 degree Celsius while the state capital Shimla reeled under severe cold at 3.0 degree Celsius against 15.4 degree yesterday, followed by Bhuntar 6.4 degree, Manali 9.0 degree, Solan 12.0 degree, Dharamsala 13.6 degree and Una and Nahan 14.8 degree.
However, the minimum temperature rose marginally and Bharmaur, Keylong, Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of minus 12.2 degree, minus 11.7 degree, minus 2.8 degree and minus 1.0 degree, followed by Shimla 1.0 degree, Bhuntar and Nahan 4.0 degree, Solan and Palampur 5.0 degree, Dharamsala 6.4 degree, Una 7.0 degree and Sundernagar 7.3 degree C.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or snow at many places tomorrow and rains and snow at isolated places in mid and higher hills over the next two days.
