Unusual snowfall hits Haridwar

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Monday, October 23, 2006 (Haridwar):

Temperatures have dipped sharply in large parts of north India after the unseasonal rains and snowfall in Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

It has been snowing near Haridwar and the higher reaches of Uttaranchal's Chamoli district.

"It's the miracle. It rained and snowed so heavily that a lot of crops got damaged many animals too have died," said a resident.

Mercury dips

Normal life has also been affected in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts.

"It rained and snowed very heavily many birds have died. There has been a great damage of crops. I've never come across this kind of freak incident in all my life," said another resident.

The mercury hovered below freezing point in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh as well.

Uttaranchal has experienced moderate to heavy snowing in the past four days. Some lakes froze with temperatures plunging 3-5 degrees Celsius below the freezing point.

According to the met office, the sudden change in weather is due to a western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir. More showers are predicted in the next couple of days.