After fresh snowfall at Rohtang Pass, traffic on Manali-Leh National highway has been suspended. As per unidentified reports, Rohtang Pass has received 50 cm of snow and Lahaul and Spiti district were cut off due to closure of Pass.
Fresh snowfall has also plummeted the temperature in high altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh as at many places temperature has dropped five to 10 notches below freezing point.
All natural sources of water like springs, lakes, rivulets in the higher reaches were also frozen, reducing discharge of water in snow fed rivers and affecting hydropower generation.
The minimum temperature dropped below zero at Keylong and Kalpa and Kinnaur, whereas temperature dropped to 4.2 degree Celsius in Shimla, four degree below normal while Dalhousie and Manali recorded a low of 2.3 deg C and 3.2 deg C, four degree below normal, followed by Palampur 5.5 deg C, Solan 7.0 deg C and Nahan 8.5 deg C.
The local Meteorological office has predicted more rains, snow and thundershowers at isolated places during next 24 hours.
