Heavy snowfall, rain lash Himachal

SHIMLA :  Normal life was affected in Himachal Pradesh as tribal belt and other higher hills received another spell of snowfall while moderate to heavy rains lashed several other parts of the state.
Rohtang Pass recorded 100 cm of snow during the past 24 hours while Kalpa, Keylong in Kinnaur and Lahaul, Spiti tribal districts recorded 60 cm and 25 cm of snow respectively till this afternoon.
The key tourist resort of Manali recorded 10 cm of fresh snow and state capital Shimla experienced 5 cm of snow while Moorang recorded 30 mm of snow, followed by Narkanda 20 cm, Kharapatthar 15 cm, Khadrala 13 cm, Bharmaur 8 cm and Theog 4 cm.
The Hindustan-Tibet National Highway was closed due to heavy snow at Narkanda while Rampur and Tapri-bound buses are being routed via Basantpur and Kingal.
However, the highway was closed beyond Tapri and link roads in Kinnaur district and upper Manali region were shut.
The Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur and Chansel and Saach passes are experiencing intermittent heavy snowfall since last morning and covered under 100 cm thick blanket of snow.
Kufri, Fagu, Jubbal, Chopal, Harripur Dhar and several areas also experienced moderate snowfall.
Heavy rains lashed the mid and lower hills with Dharamshala and Saloni being the wettest, recording 39 mm rainfall while Jhungi and Kasauli received 34 mm and 32 mm of rains followed by Kheri and Dharampur 31 mm, Manali and Baldwara 30 mm, Jogindernagar, Kasol, Chamba and Seobagh 29 mm, Baijnath, Gaggal, Bijahi, Kandaghat and Solan 26 mm, Hamirpur, Mehre and Nauni 25 mm, Dehragopipur 24 mm, Bhuntar and Tinder 22 mm, Shimla 19 mm.
There was no appreciable change in the lows during the last 24 hours and Kalpa recorded the lowest temperature at minus 9.8 degrees followed by Keylong minus 6.5 degrees, Manali minus 1.4, Shimla 0.7, Dharamshala 3.6, Mandi 4.6, Chamba 5.4, Palampur 5.6, Solan 6.0, Bhuntar 6.5, Una 7.0, Sundernagar 8.5 degrees, Nahan 8.8 and Hamirpur 9.3 degrees Celsius.
The local MeT office has predicted snow at isolated places in higher hills tomorrow and clear weather in rest of the state from February 4. (AGENCIES)