Shimla: Piercing cold wave conditions prevailed in tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh as mercury fell sharply and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti experienced the coldest night of the season.
The minimum temperature at Keylong dipped to minus 12.4 degrees Celsius while the high altitude tribal areas reeled under severe cold wave conditions with mercury staying between minus 15 and minus 28 degree C.
However, Kalpa in the twin tribal district of Kinnaur recorded maximum temperature at minus 1.8 degree while Manali, Bhuntar and Sundernagar shivered under sub zero temperature at minus 1.2 deg, minus 1.0 deg and minus 0.8 deg C.
Solan and Chamba recorded a low of 0.2 deg. Una had a minimum of 2.0 deg, followed by Palampur 4.2 deg, Nahan 4.9 deg, Shimla 5.6 deg and Dharamsala 5.8 deg, two degrees below normal.
The maximum day temperatures, however, rose marginally and Una was hottest in the region with a high of 22.0 deg, followed by Sundernagar?20.6 deg, Bhunter?19.6 deg, Shimla?18.1 deg,?Nahan?16.5 deg, Dharamshala?15.2 deg and Kalpa 9.6 deg C.
Meanwhile, the winter tourist season which used to last for 15 to 20 days ended abruptly after the New Year and the occupancy of the hotels came down to 50 per cent.
Christmas and New Year were on week days and snowfall eluded the state capital on both occasions and the tourists who had come here to enjoy the snow were left disappointed.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 3, 2014, 18:26
