Kullu: In relief from the hot weather, rain in various parts of the low and mid hills and snowfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh pushed temperatures down in most parts of the state on Thursday.It snowed for the second day in Lahaul Spiti and high-altitude areas of Kullu, Kinnaur and Chamba districts. Light snowfall was recorded in Keylong, Atal Tunnel, Shinkula and Rohtang Pass.The Darcha-Shinkula road was closed by the local administration due to snowfall. Other roads that remained blocked in the district included Rohtang Pass to Atal Tunnel, Darcha to Sarchu, Gramphu to Batal and Lossar to Batal.It also rained in various parts of the state, including Lahaul Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Kangra, and Dharamshala, pushing the maximum temperatures below normal at several places.According to the meteorological centre, Shimla, the maximum temperatures dropped by 2-7 degrees at several weather stations due to Wednesday’s rain and snow.Manali recorded a maximum temperature of 12.6 degrees Celsius, which was 3.9 degrees below normal. Bhuntar recorded a maximum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius, which was 3.1 degrees below normal, and Mandi witnessed maximum temperature of 25.8 degrees Celsius, which was 2.4 degrees below normal.Kalpa recorded a maximum temperature of 13.4 degrees Celsius, a drop of 7.1 degrees in 24 hours. Dharamshala witnessed maximum temperature of 27 degrees, a drop of two degrees, and Kufri recorded a maximum temperature of 16.9 degrees, a drop of two degrees.Mercury also plummeted below 30-degree mark at all weather stations except Una, which recorded the highest maximum temperature of 32.6 degrees Celsius.Solan recorded a maximum temperature of 29.5 degrees, a drop of 0.5 degrees, and Kangra recorded a maximum temperature of 28 degrees, a drop of 0.5 degrees.Farmers and apple growers heaved a sigh of relief as much-needed rain showered most parts of Kullu district.Gurmohinder Kotia, a prominent apple grower from Seobagh in Kullu district, said the dry spell had jeopardised several crops.“This rain was much needed for vegetable crops, especially garlic, peas and cauliflower in our region. The rain also came as a blessing for apples and plums. A couple more rain spells like today, and we can hope for a good crop this year,” said Kotia.It may be mentioned that the state had witnessed below-normal rainfall last month, and this month as well.Meanwhile, the met department has predicted dry weather on March 13 and 14, and light rain and snow on March 15 and 16 in isolated parts of the state.
