Shimla: Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under harsh winter conditions, with temperatures plunging below the freezing mark at several places and fresh weather warnings issued for the coming days. According to weather officials, five locations in the state—Kukumseri, Tabo, Kalpa, Reckong Peo and Narkanda—recorded sub-zero temperatures, intensifying the cold wave.
Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti emerged as the coldest spot, where the mercury dropped to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Solan reported the highest daytime temperature at 19 degrees Celsius. Meteorological data showed a sharp fall in minimum temperatures, with Una witnessing a drop of nearly three degrees, while most other regions saw a decline of one to two degrees. Daytime temperatures across Himachal also fluctuated by two to three degrees.
Light snowfall was reported early Sunday at several high-altitude tourist locations, including Zanskar, Samdo, Baralacha, Kunzum Pass and Rohtang Pass, adding to the wintry conditions in the tribal belt of Lahaul and Spiti. Meanwhile, dense fog affected visibility in the plains, though its intensity was slightly lower than the previous day.
Visibility dropped significantly in Sundernagar, where it was reduced to nearly 100 metres. Motorists also faced problems due to foggy conditions in Mandi, Paonta Sahib, Una and areas surrounding the Pong Dam in Kangra district.
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has indicated that another western disturbance is likely to affect the region around January 5 and January 7, which may bring rain and snowfall to higher elevations. A yellow alert for dense fog has been issued across parts of the state and will remain in effect until January 8.
The adverse weather also impacted rail services. The Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi reached Amb-Andaura station about half an hour late on Sunday, arriving at 11:35 am instead of its scheduled time of 11:05 am. The Himachal Express, running from Delhi to Daulatpur Chowk, also reached the station roughly 30 minutes behind schedule.
Authorities have advised residents and travelers to remain cautious, particularly in fog-prone and high-altitude areas, as cold conditions are expected to persist in the coming days.
