Keylong in Himachal chills at -9.6 degrees

Shimla: Icy winds swept through the hills of Himachal Pradesh Tuesday. Keylong was the coldest town in the state with a minimum temperature of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district which saw fresh snowfall of 8 cm recorded a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while the temperature was minus 4.2 degrees Celsius in Manali, an official of the meteorological department told IANS.

Shimla recorded a minimum of 0.7 degree, a slight fall from Monday's 0.9 degree Celsius.

There was plenty of snow accumulated in a few areas of Shimla such as the Mall Road, the Ridge, the US Club and Jakhu hills, the official said.

The weatherman, however, said the state would not see any more snow or rain in the coming few days.

A spokesperson said most of the roads in the interior areas of Shimla, Kinnaur and Kullu districts are still cut off due to snow.

The traffic bound for towns in Shimla district such as Jubbal, Kotkhai, Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal was affected for the third day Tuesday.

The connectivity on the Kullu-Manali National Highway 21 remained suspended near Patlikuhl, some 20 km before Manali, for heavy vehicles, including buses, officials said. However, small vehicles like cars and taxis have started plying on the highway.