397 roads blocked in state

Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 19

The apple belt of Shimla and Kinnaur remained cut off from the state capital for the past 24 hours following a fresh spell of snow.

According to the PWD report, 397 roads in Shimla, Mandi and Kangra zones, including Shimla-Kufri-Narkanda-Rampur, Aut-Jalori Pass-Ani-Rampur, Rohru-Hatkoti-Theog and Chopal-Deha-Theog highways, remained blocked for traffic on Tuesday following heavy snowfall.

Tourists thronged the capital after Jhakhu, Kufri and Charabra received fresh snowfall.

The fresh snowfall brought normal life to a complete halt in the area of upper Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi, Bharmour, Dalhousie and upper parts of Kullu and Mandi districts, said the report.

Emergency patients from Jubbal, Rohru and Chopal took the Rohru-Tiuni-Nahan road to reach the PGI, Chandigarh, or IGMC, Shimla, after travelling for 15 to 20 hours.

Officials of the PWD said 165 roads in Shimla zone, 189 in Mandi-Kullu zone and 39 in Kangra zone and 38 roads in Dalhousie circle remained blocked due to snow. “We have deployed 209 machines to clear the roads and 89 roads are expected to be restored by tomorrow,” they added.

Local MeT office said that Shimla received 5 cm of snow, Kufri 35 cm, Kalpa 22cm, Dalhousie 25 cm and Keylong 5 cm.

Dharamshala received 40.4 mm of rainfall, the highest in the state, Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Sirmaur, Solan and Una district received widespread rain on Tuesday.

Met warns of rain, snow on Feb 21-22

The Met office said that fresh Western Disturbance would result in widespread rain and hailstorms in lower and mid hills and heavy snowfall in the higher regions of the state on February 21 and 22. The intensity of rain and snow would decrease after February 22, the report said.