The intense cold wave is sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh as minimum temperatures hovering around freezing point in several places in the state. Thick ground frost was seen at many places and towns along the banks of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are enveloped by dense fog in the morning hours, hampering normal traffic. All natural lakes, springs and a 40 km stretch of the Chandrabhaga river located in high altitude tribal areas were frozen, drastically reducing the discharge of water to snow-fed Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers and their tributaries.