Himachal Pradesh is witnessing contrasting weather conditions as the state remains deprived of snowfall and rainfall, while severe cold continues to disrupt daily life. From high mountain peaks to foothill plains, most parts of the state are currently facing cold-day conditions along with dry weather.
According to the Meteorological Department, the western disturbance remains inactive, and the weather is expected to stay clear till January 16. This means there is no immediate relief from the ongoing dry spell or the biting cold.
Despite the absence of snow, nights have turned extremely cold. Out of 12 districts, minimum temperatures in eight have dropped below freezing point, while two others are hovering around zero degrees Celsius. Districts such as Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Chamba and Mandi are severely affected, with water frozen inside pipelines. Higher reaches of Shimla, along with parts of Solan and Bilaspur, are also experiencing harsh cold nights.
In the plains, dense fog has emerged as a major hazard, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of road accidents. A tragic accident linked to poor visibility was reported from Dasuya in Punjab, claiming the lives of four residents from Una district. Areas near Bhakra and Pong reservoirs are witnessing extremely low visibility, while frost on roads has added to slippery conditions.
Although cities like Shimla and Dharamshala are getting some sunshine during the day, the relief is short-lived and fades after sunset. Keeping the situation in view, the weather department has issued a yellow alert for Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Kangra and other districts for Sunday and Monday.
