Chamba areas don white mantle

Balkrishan Prashar

Chamba, January 16

Normal life was disrupted in the-high altitude areas of Chamba district as heavy snowfall continued on the second consecutive day, reports reaching at the district headquarters said today.

The reports said that the higher reaches of Bharmour and Pangi tribal areas and the adjacent ranges of Pir Panjal mountains in Jammu and Kashmir have been covered under snow. The popular hill resorts of Dalhousie and Khajjiar too have received heavy snowfall.

The snowfall is stated to be beneficial for apple and other fruit crops, said Uttam Chand, owner of an apple orchard of Bharmour.

The reports said that the lower areas had been having widespread rain. All the passes along the high peaks such as the Jot Pass, Jalsu Pass, Kugti Pass, Chobia Pass, Chehni Pass, Padhri Pass and Saach Pass continue to remain closed due to snowfall. The residents are facing numerous difficulties as their life has been thrown out of gear.

“With roads covered under thick blanket of snow, supply of essential commodities and transportation of tourists have been impeded. In several areas, electricity supply was disrupted due to snapping of transmission lines. Water supply has also been affected due to bursting of pipes”, the report said. “The residents are compelled to melt snow into water making it potable for them and their livestock”, the reports said.

Hem Raj Chandel, former pradhan of a far-flung Bhandal panchayat of Salooni subdivision in Chamba district, told over the phone that the road linking the district headquarters had been blocked by heavy snowfall, thereby hampering transportation services. In the aftermath of the snowfall, the villagers in the area have been facing shortage of kerosene.

Officials, however, maintained that the essential commodities and food items had already been stocked in abundance in snowbound terrains.

Snow, rain losses Rs 11.53 cr 

Chamba: As many as five persons have lost their lives in the aftermath of severe cold and icy cold winds following heavy snowfall and rains in different parts of Chamba district since January 1, said Deputy Commissioner Sudesh Mokhta here on Monday. He said that the loss caused to the public and private property due to heavy snowfall and rain in the district had been put at around Rs11.53 crore. Three houses had been damaged in the district. Detailing the breakup of damage report compiled from other government departments, the DC said during the past few days, the loss occurred to the roads network in the district had been assessed to Rs.9.46 crore. The district officials of HPSEBL had also submitted a report of damages caused to the power supply network in the district which amounted to Rs 1.10 crore. Meanwhile, the officials working in the field had been directed to provide immediate relief to the affected families at their doorsteps, the he added. — OC