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Most hill stations remain frozen

Shimla records 0.7 degree Celsius; Uttar Pradesh continues to be in the grip of cold wave conditions

Shimla: Most parts of Himachal Pradesh reeled under piercing cold wave conditions on Tuesday as mercury further dipped in the region in spite of clear weather.

The minimum temperature in hill stations, including Capital Shimla, hovered around zero degree Celsius while it fell three to five degrees below freezing point in higher reaches.

Shimla recorded a low of 0.7 degree Celsius while the temperature dipped to minus two degree Celsius in upper areas of the town.

The mercury dipped to minus 18.5 degrees Celsius at Patseu in tribal Lahaul valley, minus 9 degrees at Dhundi, minus 5.5 degrees at Solang Nallah and minus 1.5 degrees at Bhang.

The high-altitude areas in tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi, Pin and Bharmaur stayed between minus 12 to minus 30 degrees Celsius, chilling people to the bones.

The Hindustan-Tibet National Highway, which was blocked due to snow and landslides had been opened up to Rekong Peo, headquarter of tribal Kinnaur district but was closed beyond it.

The power supply had been restored in Kinnaur and tribal Spiti valley after seven days.

The Kiratpur-Manali National Highway had also been opened up to Solang Nallah and a large number of ski enthusiasts were making a beeline to Solang ski slopes.

The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges, donning a mantle of snow, presented a dazzling look in the morning. The mighty Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), covered under 170 cm of snow, was closed and would be opened in the end of April or early May.

Lucknow: Intense cold powered by chilly Westerlies continued to make minimum temperatures hover below normal levels across Uttar Pradesh during the last 24 hours.

Despite the weakening of western disturbance that recently led to snow and rain in higher Himalayan reaches and resultant cold wave in the northern part of the country, the intense cold maintained its grip across the State, Met Office told UNI here.

Night temperatures across the State stayed at below normal levels with Sultanpur being coldest at four degrees Celsius, that was five degrees below normal. Among other places Agra recorded a minimum of five degrees (-3), Varanasi and Kanpur stood at five degrees (-4), Gorakhpur at seven degrees (-3) and Lucknow at six degrees, a degree below normal.

The weatherman has forecast the prevalence of the cold wave in the State over the next 48 hours along with possibility of minimum temperatures making a subtle climb. -- UNI, PTI

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Most hill stations remain frozen

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