Shimla, Manali cut off; bus service suspended; no power
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 7
The first heavy snowfall of the season, and the heaviest since 1991, threw life out of gear in Shimla and upper areas today. Trees were uprooted, electric poles damaged, telecommunication services disrupted and bus service suspended.
In upper Shimla, that remained inaccessible by road, residents had to go without vegetables, milk and bread.
The state capital and several other areas remained without power for more than 10 hours. Shimla and Manali were cut off. Revellers at Shoghi were stuck. As many as 535 roads were closed, leading to a loss of Rs 10 crore.
(Follow ; and )
The Special Secretary, Disaster Management, DD Sharma, said 158 JCBs, five robots, 15 dozers and 10 front-loaders had been deployed to make at least 30 per cent roads motorable.
Officials said their endeavour was to clear the main roads. With traffic beyond Manali suspended, 30 HRTC buses were stranded.
The Churdhar ranges recorded 120 cm of snowfall and the majestic Dhauladhars in Kangra 90 cm. Shimla saw 50 cm, Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda 60-75 cm and Manali 35 cm of snowfall.
Shimla and Bhuntar recorded a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, Manali 0.8 and Solan 2.5.
The snowfall was preceded by rain and sleet. Shimla received 20 mm rain, Dharamsala 44 mm, Mandi, Solan 38 mm, Nahan 35 mm and Una 34 mm. The snowfall, considered ‘white manure’, has brought cheer to apple growers. The end of the dry spell augurs well for the rabi crop.
The Met Office has warned of heavy snowfall at isolated places in middle and high hills on Sunday and dry weather thereafter.
