Shimla, Rohtang & Manali don white mantle

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 12

A moderate snowfall in higher reaches and widespread rain in mid and lower places brought smiles on the faces of apple growers, farmers, residents and tourists.

The second snowfall of the year has given a fresh lease of life to apple as snow is considered white manure for apple crop and low temperatures will provide chilling hours.

The farmers were a worried lot as the rain deficit from January 1 to February 12 was a whopping 86 per cent. Rain and snow will also recharge the perennial water sources.

However, normal life was disrupted at several places and link roads in higher hills were blocked. Shimla, Manali, Keylong and other areas experienced the moderate snowfall while mid and lower hills were lashed by widespread rain accompanied by strong icy winds.

The region experienced biting cold wave conditions as day temperatures dropped by six to eight degrees and the sky remained heavily overcast. The snow and rain blocked the roads, but most of the major roads were opened by the evening. Link roads in the higher hills remained blocked.

Roads leading to Haripur Dhar, Chopal and Nohra Dhar areas had been closed to traffic since early morning as six to eight inches snow was recorded in these areas. Four HRTC and similar number of private buses were stranded, according to HRTC officials.

Four local routes in Pacchad tehsil had been closed due to heavy landslides.

The Hindustan-Tibet road was blocked at Narkanda and vehicular traffic was stopped beyond Dhalli for a few hours in the morning as a precautionary measure.

Traffic to Rampur and Kinnaur was diverted by Basantpur. The Manali-Rohtang road was closed beyond the Solang nullah due to heavy snow and people were advised not to venture out in the higher hills. The Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur district received 30 cm of snow while Haripur Dhar, Nohra Dhar, Gatta Dhar, Bathau Dhar and Banali Dhar received 15 to 20 cm of snow till this evening. The Rohtang received 35 cm of snow, followed by Kothi 27 cm, Keylong 11, Kalpa, Jubbal and Bharmaur 10 cm each, Kufri 8 cm, Manali 6 cm, Theog 3 cm and Shimla 2 cm.

“Elaborate arrangements were made and men and machinery were pressed into service. Rampur-bound HRTC buses had been diverted through Basantpur but the roads are open for small vehicles beyond Kufri and Narkanda,” said Amit Kashyap, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.

Widespread rain accompanied by strong icy winds lashed the mid and lower hills. Solan was the wettest in the region with 32 mm of rain, followed by Sangrah 31 mm, Dharamsala and Kotkhai 27 mm, Manali 16 mm, Shimla 11.8 mm, Jubbal, Una and Bhuntar 10 mm, Palampur, Sundernagar and Kandaghat 9 mm and Mandi 6.1 mm.

Manali draped in white blanket

Manali and its adjoining areas received a fresh spell of snow on Monday while the lower parts were lashed by rain. The area was covered with a white blanket of snow. The thick white layer covered roofs, deodar and apple trees. Tourists thronged The Mall and Nehru Park to enjoy snow. The famous ski slopes of Solang also received snow, bringing smile on the faces of winter sports lovers. The entire higher reaches in Kullu valley, including 13,050-ft-high Rohtang Pass, Marhi, Gulaba, Kothi, Dhundi, Chanderkhani and Pir Panjal ranges also received moderate to heavy snow. OC

Manali-Rohtang road closed

• The Manali-Rohtang road was closed beyond Solang nullah due to heavy snow and people were advised not to venture out in the higher hills

• The region experienced biting cold wave condition as day temperatures dropped by six to eight degrees after rain and snow and sky remained heavily overcast

• Roads leading to Haripur Dhar, Chopal and Nohra Dhar areas have been closed for traffic since Monday morning as six to eight inches snow was recorded in these areas