Snow in Rohtang, traffic on Manali- Keylong road hit

MC Thakur

MANALI, APRIL 20

Inclement weather in upper Manali worsened on Friday with the higher reaches, including Rohtang Pass, receiving fresh snowfall, while the lower parts of the region were lashed by rain.

The traffic on the Manali- Keylong highway was also disrupted due to the fresh snowfall on the 13,050-ft-high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul-Spiti valley.

Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) officials said the bus service to Lahaul from Manali had been suspended due to bad weather conditions.

Fresh snowfall has also hampered the snow-clearing work being carried out by the BRO on the Manali- Leh highway.

The snow clearing operation going on between Zingzingbar and Baralacha Pass had to be stopped. Hundreds of tourists, who had arrived in Manali from various parts of the country, were in for a surprise to see the upper areas of the Manali region on the Manali- Rohtang road covered with a white blanket of snow. Hundreds of tourists rushed to Gulaba to enjoy fresh snowfall. Festival-like atmosphere prevailed at different places in Gulaba as tourists were seen enjoying the fresh snowfall, throwing snowballs at each other and clicking photographs. The entire higher reaches in the upper Manali region, including Pir Panjal ranges, Chanderkhani pass, Marhi, Brighu slopes, Hamta slopes, Beaskund and Dhundi, also experienced fresh snowfall.

Fresh spell of snowfall at the Rohtang Pass has also brought cheers to those associated with the tourism industry as they were feeling disappointed earlier because of dry winter. Those associated with the tourism industry feel that the fresh snowfall will boost tourism and usher in a long summer season in Manali and tourists will get to see enough snow in different places in upper region. Due to fresh snowfall in entire higher reaches witnessed wintery conditions making people take out their woollens.

Heavy rain lashes Kangra 

• Kangra valley witnessed heavy rain, accompanied by high-velocity winds and mild snowfall, on the Dhauladhars, dropping the temperature by a few notches on Friday.
• It rained heavily in the valley leaving life out of gear. Kangra town experienced 10-mm rain during the day. According to CSK HPKV Oilseed Station Centre, Dharamsala received 12-mm rain. 
• The maximum temperature dropped to 30.3 degrees C in Kangra from 32.8 degrees C on Thursday and it touched 26.6 degrees C as maximum temperature in Dharamsala. The minimum temperature in the town dropped  to 17 degrees C and in Dharamsala it touched 12.2 degrees C. 
• Shahpur, Gaggal, Rait, Nagrota Bagwan, Dharamsala, Mallan, Chanumda, Jawalamukhi, Dehra, Ranital and other places also witnessed heavy rain.