Shimla, March 8: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday airlifted over 50 people, including two serious patients to Bhuntar from snow covered Udaipur and Stingri region of Lahaul-Spiti district. According to a tweet by ANI, tourists who were stuck in Kullu were also dropped back to different locations in Lahaul-Spiti. Cold waves continued to grip the hill state even on Friday with temperatures dropping under sub-zero temperatures. The Met department informed that a fresh western disturbance is likely to be active in the region from March 11, bringing rain and snow to the region. Himachal Pradesh On Yellow Alert, Likely to Witness Heavy Snowfall on February 26.

According to reports, the minimum temperature in Shimla was 3.7 degree Celsius, Director of the local India Meteorological Department Manmohan Singh told IANS. In Keylong and Spiti, the temperature took a dip and saw the low temperatures of minus 6.8 and minus 3.4 degrees respectively. Meanwhile, Dharamsala recorded a low temperature of 5.2 degree, while Dalhousie shivered at 1.4 degree and 0.3 degree in Kufri. The night temperature at Manali was minus 1.4 degree. Himachal Pradesh Avalanche: Rescue Operation for 5 Missing Troopers Resumes.

In February, over 70 tourists, including three foreign nationals were stuck at various places after snow avalanches blocked roads. Reports inform that the tourists were on their way to Shimla by National Highway 5.

On February 20, six troopers of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were buried under an avalanche that hit near the Tibet border in the the state's Kinnaur district. On March 2, rescuers had managed to trace the body of a third trooper after 12 days of hectic search operations. Three of the troopers struck by the avalanche are still missing.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2019 03:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).