The state capital Shimla shivered while several places in Himachal Pradesh reeled under piercing cold wave conditions with the mercury hovering around freezing point.
The temperature in Shimla dropped by three degrees since Wednesday.
Thick fog engulfed Kullu, Mandi, Sundernagar and Bilaspur towns along the banks of Beas and Sutlej while thick ground frost occurred in the higher hills and tribal belt during the morning hours, hampering vehicular traffic.
Bhuntar was in the grip of biting cold with minimum temperature at 0.5 degree while Solan, Sundernagar and Mandi recorded a low of 1.8, 1.7 and 2.5 degree Celsius respectively.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the minimum temperature at minus 2.9 degree while high altitude tribal areas experienced biting cold wave with the mercury staying six to twelve degrees below freezing point.
All natural sources of water like springs, lakes and rivulets in high altitude areas havr frozen reducing the discharge of water in major rivers and hitting hydropower generation.
Strong velocity winds lashed Shimla and adjoining areas and day temperature fell to 15.9 degrees while Una, Nahan, Dharamsala, Mandi and Sundernagar recorded maximum temperature between 21 and 22.5 degree, a drop of two degrees as compared to Wednesday.
{{/usCountry}}Strong velocity winds lashed Shimla and adjoining areas and day temperature fell to 15.9 degrees while Una, Nahan, Dharamsala, Mandi and Sundernagar recorded maximum temperature between 21 and 22.5 degree, a drop of two degrees as compared to Wednesday.
{{/usCountry}}The local met office predicted rain or snow in higher hills during next 24 hours.