A pet dog was found guarding the body of its owner amid a snowstorm and biting cold in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Two teenagers had gone for trekking in the area on January 23 and went missing. Rescue teams found the bodies after three days of searching, with the dog loyally guarding one of the bodies.
Heavy rains and landslides in Himachal Pradesh have resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread disruption, including road closures and train cancellations.
The national capital, parts of which reeled under heatwave conditions for the past few days, had some relief on Wednesday with strong winds and partly cloudy skies witnessed during the day.
Twelve candidates are in the fray for the three tribal seats, elections for which are being held ahead of the remaining 65 assembly constituencies for the first time in the state's history. In all 1,27,785 voters, including 61,902 women, will exercise their franchise for the three constituencies, while polling for the remaining 65 assembly constituencies will be held on December 19.
Polls to Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmaur assembly seats were not held in winter, along with the rest of the state, as they were snowbound.
The highest polling of 72.35 per cent was recorded in Sirmour district followed by 68.48 per cent in Solan and 67.67 per cent in Una and 67.5 per cent in Lahaul and Spiti. The high-altitude district of Lahaul and Spiti had recorded 21.95 per cent, the lowest, till 1 pm, but polling was brisk as the sun came out.
AAP's presence in both states has complicated the contests for the BJP and its Congress rival.
Avalanche threat loomed large over high altitude tribal areas and people have been advised to stay indoors as biting cold wave conditions prevailed in Himachal Pradesh in spite of marginal rise in temperature.
Four states -- Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura -- will go to polls on February 26. While Himachal Pradesh has 65 assembly constituencies, the three northeastern states have 60 each.
Thirty-three were also injured when a bus fell into the Ravi river in Chamba district of the state.
Three persons died due to severe cold in north India where icy winds swept through most parts and mercury plummeted by several notches.
Authorities alerted people to avoid staying outdoors and L-G ordered to halt all civil construction activities across the city till Sunday.
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