Shimla, Aug 11

Your journey to the hills of Himachal Pradesh will not run into rough weather now -- the Shimla weather bureau has brought two major national highways that zigzag through the state on the weather map of India, an official said.

"We have started weather forecasts for tourists who are travelling on national highways (NH) 21 and 22," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS Sunday.

He said the information would be available at www.weathershimla.nic.in, one week in advance. It would be reviewed and updated daily.

The weather bureau launched this facility August 9.

A special weeklong forecast, with minimum and maximum temperatures for prominent tourists destinations like Shimla, Kufri, Dharamsala and Manali, are also part of the tourist-focused service, Singh said. 

According to Singh, information about the Ambala-Kalka-Shimla-Wangtoo-Kaurik NH-22 would be available in two segments -- one between Parwanoo and Shimla, and another from Shimla to Kalpa to Kaza.

On the Chandigarh-Mandi-Manali NH-21, the weather bureau has covered only the stretch between Swarghat and Kullu towns.

It has also included the crucial 150-km Kullu-Manali-Keylong road link, which passes through the majestic Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft).

The weather at the Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the Lahaul Valley, is harsh. A sudden drop in the temperature, even in summer, can trigger winter-like conditions.

But its idyllic settings have been drawing an increasing number of backpackers, especially foreigners, for adventure-related activities like mountain biking, rock-climbing and cross-jungle trekking.

Currently, the meteorological centre has 23 automatic weather recording centres and 71 rain gauge centres. 

By:IANS

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