The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Frost lingers over Udhagamandalam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Frost lingers over Udhagamandalam

By Our Staff Reporter

UDHAGAMANDALAM, DEC.19 . With the mercury dipping steadily, many parts of this hill station have been experiencing frost over the past few days. The bitter chillness, particularly after dusk, has hit normal life with people heading home earlier than usual.

The minimum temperature was around 3 degree Celsius in the town areas and below that on the outskirts. Frost was stated to be severe in the Lord Wenlock Downs, Western Catchment, Mukurthi, Pykara, Wenlock Downs, Parsons valley, Sandynallah, Upper Bhavani and Avalanchi. Motorists are finding it difficult to start their vehicles early in the morning. While the flow of tourists has decreased, the biting frost has also hit tea gardens in many areas.

The Deputy Director of Horticulture, T. Bellie, said here today that tea estates in many parts of the district had been affected by frost. Among them were Nanjanad, Balacola, Mulligur, Bikkatty, Dodabetta and Ithalar. Even areas like Chinna Coonoor, which were normally not frost-prone, had been hit this winter. However, there were no reports yet of damage to annual crops on account of frost as most of them had already been harvested.

Mr. Bellie said a survey of the areas affected by frost would be taken up. On the bright side, the frost would help exterminate soil pests.

Stating that during this time of the year there was normally a good inflow of tourists, the secretary of the Nilgiri Hotel and Restaurant Association, Chandrashekar regretted that this year the inflow was poor. He hoped that it would pick up around Christmas and New Year.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu