Shimla, Apr 4 (PTI) Several areas of Himachal Pradesh experienced light to moderate rain and snowfall while a hailstorm lashed the capital Shimla on Saturday, bringing down the mercury in the hill state.
The Shimla Meteorological Office issued an orange warning for hailstorms in four to five districts on April 7 and 8.
The weather department predicted a wet spell in the state till April 10.
Rainfall followed by a heavy hailstorm struck Shimla on Saturday night, covering the city under a thin layer of sleet within minutes.
In the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu, fresh snowfall was witnessed over the past 24 hours since Friday evening. Gondla received 13 cm of snow, followed by Hansa and Keylong with 7.5 cm each, and Koksar with 3 cm.
Snowfall also occurred at the south portal of the Atal Tunnel and adjoining areas in the suburbs of Manali. About 1,000 stranded vehicles were safely rescued and diverted towards Manali by the police.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Manali, KD Sharma said that their priority is to ensure that no tourist or local resident suffers any loss of life or property.
Intermittent rain was recorded in various parts of the state. Dharamshala received 39.2 mm of rain, followed by 36 mm in Manali, 32.7 mm in Sarahan, 23 mm in Kasauli, 22.5 mm in Sundernagar, 18.2 mm in Kalpa, 13.4 mm each in Mandi and Bilaspur, 11.4 mm in Bhuntar and 10 mm in Shimla.
The Met office issued an orange alert for hailstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph in the Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thunderstorms and lightning lashed Shimla, Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Jot and Kangra, while gusty winds with speeds ranging between 39 and 59 kmph swept Seobagh, Sundernagar, Tabo and Neri.
Minimum and maximum temperatures saw a drop of 2-5 degrees and 2-8 degrees Celsius, respectively, at many stations.
Tabo, with a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius, was the coldest at night, while Una, with a high of 30.6 degrees Celsius, was the hottest during the day.
During the pre-monsoon season from March 1 to April 4, Himachal Pradesh received 105.5 mm of rain, compared to the normal rainfall of 120.5 mm, resulting in a 12 per cent deficit.
A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting Wednesday PTI BPL RT RT
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