Heavy snowfall in higher reaches of Uttarakhand intensifies cold

Dehradun, Jan 4 (PTI) The higher reaches of Uttarakhand hills including Chardham received heavy snowfall while the lower areas were hit by showers and hail on Saturday as temperatures went down further throughout the state.

The Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in Uttarkashi district, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag besides Badrinath in Chamoli district received heavy snowfall in the afternoon and were covered under thick layers of snow, the Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre officials said.

Harsil, Sukki, Mukhwa, Jankichatti and Kharsali in Uttarkashi district also received snow.

Snowfall in the higher reaches and rain coupled with hail at places in the lower areas led to a sharp drop in mercury levels with locals lighting bonfires to fight the cold.

Nanda Devi National Park and Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary in Chamoli district also received white sheets of snow.

State capital Dehradun was lashed by rain coupled with hail in the afternoon intensifying the cold.

Mukteshwar recorded a minimum of -1.2 degree Celsius followed by New Tehri at 1.2 degrees Celsius, Pantnagar at 6.5 degrees Celsius and Dehradun at 7.3 degrees Celsius, the MeT office said.