- विज्ञापन -
Chandigarh : Rain and hailstorm have increased the cold in Punjab. The Meteorological Department has predicted moderate rain in Punjab on February 20 and 21. Along with this, the Meteorological Department has issued an ‘Orange’ alert for rain on February 20 and a ‘Yellow’ alert for February 21. Since February 19, winds were blowing in Punjab at a speed of 40 to 50 km per hour.
On the other hand, there has been moderate to heavy snowfall in the high hilly areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu of Himachal Pradesh. The Meteorological Department has issued a ‘Red Alert’, predicting heavy rain/snowfall, lightning, hail and strong winds. According to the Meteorological Department, Kusumseri, Keylong and Hansa of Lahaul-Spiti district received 50.6 cm, 21 cm and 10 cm of snow respectively while Kalpa of Kinnaur district received 2 cm of snow.
According to reports, snow is falling intermittently in the hilly areas of Kullu, including the southern part of the Attal tunnel, and traffic has been stopped beyond Manali. The higher reaches of Dalhousie also received snowfall. Meanwhile, in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, there was snowfall in the highlands and rain in the plains. The 270-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed again for traffic due to landslides and rock falls from mountains at more than half a dozen places in Ramban district.
People have been asked to avoid traveling on highways until the weather improves. According to the Meteorological Department, rain is likely to continue in the valley for the next 48 hours. Gulmarg skiing resort in Baramulla district received about 1.5 feet of snowfall in 24 hours. Snowfall also occurred in Kupwara, Handwara and Sonmarg areas of the valley.
