New Delhi, Wednesday, September 19, After 21 years, the higher parts of Himachal Pradesh experienced unseasonal snowfall while several other parts of the state received a handsome amount of rainfall during the last twenty four hours. Cold wave like conditions were created in the higher hills after the snowfall and the snow also closed the Rohtang Pass.
Lahaul, Spiti, Rohtang Pass, Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Sarchu, Baralacha and Chansel passes also received snowfall. Profound fall in the temperatures was also recorded at many places in the state with Manali registering 10 degrees. The tribal areas of Keylong and Kalpa recorded a low of 9.4 deg C and 11 deg C.
The heaviest rainfall of 164 mm was recorded at Hamirpur followed by Nadaun 144 mm, Mehre 139 mm, Dharmsala 135 mm, Una 126 mm, Sujanpur Tira 111 mm, Kheri 106. Shimla, the state capital recorded 45 mm of rain till Tuesday evening.
The snowfall and the increased rainfall activities are being attributed to the interaction of the western end of the Monsoon trough with the just passed Western Disturbance. But, as there is no prediction for another Western Disturbance in the next three to four days and the western end of the monsoon trough is expected to become ineffective, the rains would subdue during the next twenty four hours in the state.
