30 cm of snow makes Lahaul inaccessible

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 12

Lahaul Spiti has received a heavy snowfall since Monday paralysing the normal life in the district.

Keylong received 31 cm of snow, while the Chandra valley from Koksar to Dalang got around two-foot snow. Similarly in Patan and Tod valley, 30 cm of fresh snowfall occurred.

The power supply that was disrupted on Monday night in the Lahaul valley was restored this afternoon by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board restored it. The traffic movement had became standstill. The district has been gripped by bone-chilling cold, which forced the residents to remain indoors.

Mangal Chand Manepa, Regional Manager of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti, told The Tribune that the bus services of the HRTC in the Lahaul valley had been suspended because of heavy snowfall. Around 18 routes in the valley and 19 in the Pangi region had been suspended because of snowfall. “In Kullu district, the bus service between Anni and Kullu has been suspended because of snow at Jalori Pass,” he added.

He said the HRTC services in the Lahaul valley could be restored after snow clearance by the Border Roads Organisation and PWD, which would depend on the weather condition. Due to heavy snowfall at Rohtang, the traffic movement has been closed between Kullu and Keylong. Now the residents of Lahaul Spiti will depend on flight services, which will be provided by the government in emergency cases.

Dorje Upasak of Keylong said 30 cm above snowfall had been witnessed till evening.

The Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul Spiti, has issued a fresh advisory for the people of the district to avoid venturing out of their house in the next few days or try to cross Rohtang on foot, which may be a risky affair.

He said with the closure of Rohtang, he would take up the matter with the state government to provide air services in the coming days. He added, “We have sent a request to the state government on the issue.” He said the rescue posts at Koksar and Marhi would remain functional till December 31.

Lightning plunges Hamirpur town into darkness  

• Hamirpur: Electricity supply was disrupted in the town following lightning and downpour on Monday evening. The state electricity board could not restore the power supply till late forenoon in some areas, including Anu, Hira Nagar and Krishna Nagar. 
• Though the power supply was restored in some areas of the town, it was again disrupted after a few minutes. The areas including Anu, Hira Nagar and Krishna Nagar remained without power supply for long. The circuit house of the Public Works Department and the residence of the Deputy Commissioner also remained without electricity for the entire night.
• Ashok Sharma, Executive Engineer of the Electricity Board, said the power supply was disrupted due to lightning yesterday as over six transformers were damaged. 
• He said electricity to a major part of the town was restored by night, but the rain hampered the restoration work. He said the power supply to all areas under the division was restored on Tuesday.

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Heavy snow disrupts life in Chhota, Bara Bhangal       

Palampur: Heavy  rain and snow accompanied by chilly winds disrupted normal life in the Kangra valley. Chhota and  Bara Bhangal experienced heavy snow in last 24 hours. The entire region is in the grip of severe cold wave. Many villages in Palampur and its adjoining areas have remained without power for hours following  a snag in transmission lines. Reports reaching here said 30 villages of the Chhota Bhangal valley had been cut off following heavy snow between  Jhatingri and Kothi Kohar.  An officer of the HP power board said the power supply was disrupted following uprooting of trees and electricity poles. HRTC has suspended the bus services to Kothi Kohar and Bara Gram since yesterday.  Till Tuesday evening  two feet of snow was recorded at Bara Gram, one feet at Billing and two feet at Rajgundha. Bara Bhangal has also been cut off for the last fortnight following heavy snow at Thamsar Pass. OC