Shimla, Feb 20 (PTI) Snowfall was witnessed in isolated and higher areas in many districts of Himachal Pradesh while mid and lower hills received light rains, leading to the closure of some roads on Thursday.
Since Wednesday night, Shilaroo received 5 cm of snow followed by Gondla 3 cm, Kalpa 1.3 cm and Sangla 0.3 cm. Upper areas of Manali and Narkanda, Rohru, Chansal areas of Shimla and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti also witnessed snow, reports reaching here said.
Following snowfall in higher reaches of Manali, the roads beyond Nehru Kund have been closed for most vehicles. The Lahaul and Spiti Police have advised the commuters to avoid unnecessary driving and if necessary drive with caution, maintain a safe distance, use fog lights and follow instructions of police.
The National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Road) has been closed for vehicular traffic at Narkanda following snow and the traffic has been diverted from Sainj to Shimla via Luhri, officials said.
Some areas of the state received light to moderate rains and Dalhousie with 22 mm of rain was the wettest in the state followed by Sundernagar 21 mm, Bharmour 18.2 mm, Dharamshala 16.8 mm, Manali 16 mm, Mandi and Kangra 14.4 mm each, Bhuntar 13.6 mm, Bilaspur 13 mm and Una 10 mm. State capital Shimla which was lashed by thunderstorms also received mild rains.
The Met Office has issued an orange alert of heavy rainfall, snowfall and thunderstorms in the Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday.
They said that a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from February 24 onwards.
There was an appreciable rise in the minimum temperatures and Keylong in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a low of minus 2.3 degree Celsius on Wednesday night.
On Tuesday night Tabo was coldest with minus 7.3 degrees Celsius. Kangra was hottest during the day on Thursday with a high of 26.4 degrees Celsius.
The state received 33 mm average rainfall during the winter season from January 1 to February 20 against normal rainfall of 154 mm, a deficit of 79 per cent.