Avoid visiting Shikari Devi temple in winter, cautions administration

Dipender Manta

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Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 17

With the onset of winter, the district administration has cautioned visitors to avoid journey towards the Shikari Devi Temple in Mandi district in the coming days in view of the concerns over safety. The temple is situated at a height of 3,359 m above the sea level and receives heavy snow during the winters.

Two students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, who were on an excursion in the area, froze to death there in January. Both were found dead near the snow-clad Shikari Devi temple, which made the district administration issue an advisory for the public to avoid such mishaps in future. This place is accessible from Karsog, which is 21 km from the temple.

Talking to The Tribune, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Janjehli, Ashwani Kumar said due to its uniqueness, tourists prefer to visit this place round the year.

“Due to high altitude, the area is prone to heavy snowfall during winter. It may pose threat to the lives of people as a majority of them are not aware of the topography and sudden climatic changes of the area,” he said.

“We have urged people to avoid journey towards the temple during winter in view of public safety. The area becomes inaccessible because of heavy snow,” he added. The SDM said people were told to avoid journey toward the shrine from November 16 till April 15.

2 NIT students froze to death in January 

• Two students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, who were on an excursion in the area, froze to death there in January.
• Both were found dead near the snow-clad Shikari Devi temple.
• The SDM said people were told to avoid journey toward the shrine from November 16 to April 15.