Cold conditions prevail in higher regions of Himachal

The higher regions in Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under intense cold wave as mercury hovered around freezing point while the day temperature rose marginally in mid and lower hills.

Minimum temperature dropped to minus 0.6 deg C in Keylong and minus 0.4 deg C in Kalpa while the high altitude were recording minimum temperature ranging between minus three and minus eight degrees.

The minimum temperature ranged between 8.5 deg C and 10. 5 deg C in major towns of Shimla, Bhuntar, Mandi, Solan, Sundernagar and Dharamsala.

Una remained hottest in the region with a high of 29 deg C while Shimla, Dharamsala, Kalpa and Solan recorded maximum temperature of 20.4, 24.6, 14.4 and 25.5 deg C respectively.

The Rohtang Pass, which was closed due to early snowfall on Thursday, was opened today, official sources said, adding around 450 stranded persons were brought from Keylong to Koksar.

The stranded were not allow to travel the pass as it was risky and they would be sent to Manali tomorrow.

The Border Roads Organisation opened the pass in record time of 48 hours but the same would officially closed on October 31, a BRO spokesperson said.