Cold wave in Himachal to intensify with chances of snow, rain

Shimla, Jan 11 (IANS) The cold wave will intensify in Himachal Pradesh with widespread rain and snow forecast in the coming days by the Met Office here on Friday. The precipitation is likely to last till January 16.

"Certain areas are likely to experience heavy spells of snow and rain till Sunday," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.

He said chances of snow in the higher reaches of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Sirmaur and Chamba districts are high.

The Met department's forecast said the western disturbances -- storm systems originating from the Mediterranean Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region -- would remain active in the region till January 16.

"After January 13, another western disturbance would affect the region from January 15, causing scattered to fairly widespread precipitation till January 16," the official said.

Meanwhile, Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district was the coldest town in the state with a low of minus 9.8 degree Celsius.

The minimum temperatures in Shimla and Manali were 2.7 degrees and one degree, respectively.

Dharamsala saw a low of 4.4 degrees, while it was minus 1.1 degree in Kufri and 0.6 degree in Dalhousie.

An advisory has been issued against venturing to the high hills as chances of heavy snowfall and landslides are high till January 13, a government spokesperson told IANS here.

He said even the snow-bound areas near the tourist resort of Manali like Solang, Beas Kund, Nehru Kund, Gulaba and Marhi should be avoided.

The Kullu administration has advised residents to stay indoors to avoid any untoward incidents.

Motorists are warned to be cautious while driving in the interiors as chances of road cave-ins and landslides are high after heavy snow.