Himachal records wettest day in March

Shimla :In the last 24 hours Himachal Pradesh has been lashed by unseasonal snow and rain, making it the wettest day in March ever in the hill state.

“Monday was the wettest day in March ever in Himachal recording 57.5 mm of precipitation against 2.8 mm of its normal value, this is 1950 per cent more than its normal value,” Manmohan Singh,Director, Indian Meteroligical Department here said.

“Most of the weather stations across the state have received record snowfall and rainfall in a day in March,” Singh said.

“The tribal towns of Kalpa and Keylong received 65 cm and 61 cm of snowfall in the last 24 hours,” he said.

“In the lower hills Una town recorded 81 mm of rainfall highest in a day since 13 March 1911,” he added.

The weather office has forecast more snow and rain in the next 24 hours.

Many roads have been blocked for traffic due to snowfall. The Hindustan Tibet Road has been blocked beyond the state capital Shimla.The ski resorts of Kufri and Narkanda are under a thick blanket on snow.

The popular resort town of Manali in the scenic Kullu valley is deep under a fresh heavy spell of snow.

The ski slopes of Solang overlooking Manali has received over 60 cm of snow in the last 24 hours.

The high mountain tribal districts of Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur bordering Tibet experienced a heavy snow spell.

The late snowfall has caused damage to stone fruit orchards in the mid hills of the state as the trees are in full bloom, farmers said.

Shimla recorded a high of 3 C as sleet and snow lashed the hill town.