After seven-week dry spell, it snows, rains

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23

Shimla and its surrounding areas and the higher hills in Sirmaur received the first snow of the year today while the lower hills had widespread scattered rain.

The rain and snow broke the seven-week-long dry spell, bringing cheers to farmers and apple growers. The day temperature dropped by six to seven degrees in the state.

The state capital and the areas in its vicinity had been experiencing moderate snow since this afternoon and the upper parts received 10 cm of snow till this evening. The snow disrupted the vehicular traffic on the Hindustan-Tibet National Highway near Narkanda and Kharapatthar.

An ambulance carrying a patient skidded near The Ridge here and fell near the Tibetan market. However, the woman patient, being taken to the IGMC hospital, was rescued and taken to the hospital in another vehicle.

Roads at vulnerable locations, including the IGMC and High Court, have been cleared and no reports of power disruption have poured in yet,” said Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap who was at the control room, monitoring the activities. He advised people to avoid driving at night and during the snowfall and said all arrangements were in place to meet any exigency.

Nankhari in Rampur, Kufri, Fagu and parts of the higher hills of Sirmaur had moderate snow while lower hills received rain. The Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur and the Chansel pass also received 10 cm of snow while Nohra Dhar, Gatta Dhar, Bathau Dhar and Banali Dhar also received 6 to 8 cm of snow. The lower areas of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Kullu and Kangra districts received intermittent rain, intensifying the cold conditions. Chail also saw snowflakes.

Relief for farmers

The rain and snow has broken a prolonged dry spell and brought cheers to farmers while apple growers heaved a sigh of relief. Snow during this period is considered white manure for the apple crop as it provides much-needed cooling hours and moisture.

However, farmers in several areas are worried as rain was not widespread and some areas did not receive any rain or snow. More rain is required to have normal rabi and apple crop.

Rain has provided relief to Forest and Irrigation and Public Health Departments struggling with forest fires in many parts while natural sources of water are drying up which could cause acute water shortage during summer. The rain will help replenish the natural sources of water to some extent.

The MeT has predicted dry weather for six days from tomorrow and rain or snow in higher hills on January 24.

Farmers relieved

Farmers felt relieved as the dry spell had threatened the rabi crop in the rainfed areas. The farmers had sown the crop and if dry weather continues, their seed would have gone waste.

Tourists, locals  enjoy 

Hundreds of people, including residents, came out of their houses to enjoy the snow while tourists made the videos of snowfall. Throwing snowballs was a common sight and The Mall Road, which wore a deserted look, was again abuzz with activity.

Hoteliers happy

Shimla hoteliers, who were facing a lean season with occupancy dipping to 20 per cent, are ecstatic after the snowfall as it attracts tourists to the town. They are making frantic calls to hotels, after the videos of snowfall went viral, and enquiring about bookings. “We expect heavy tourist rush till the weekend,” said a hotelier.