Dalhousie, Bharmour draped in white blanket

Chamba, January 22

The entire Chamba region above the elevation of almost 1,000 metre is covered under snow being experiencing since last night, the official reports said here today.

The district headquarters town of Chamba witnessed snowflakes which started descending this afternoon and continued till late evening. There were reports of heavy rain in lower areas.

The reports said that Dalhousie hill station had about 60 cm of snow, Bharmour 45 cm and Killar in Pangi valley had about 90 cm snow.

Hem Raj Chandel of Sanghni area in Salooni subdivision said the Salooni-Bhandal-Sanghni-Langera road had been blocked by snow. Electricity supply had also been disrupted.

Several interior roads in Bharmour and Pangi areas had been blocked by heavy snowfall. However, the Chamba-Pathankot national highway which was blocked at Banikhet by snow was expected to be cleared for traffic tonight as the NH officials had pressed its workfare and heavy machinery into service.

The JCBs had been deployed for clearance of snow on various roads in the Pangi valley, official reports said; adding that the work to clear the road from bus stand to helipad and Killar chowki bazaar road was in progress. The power supply remained cut off in most of the Chamba town as a tree fell on electricity transmission lines .

Additional Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa in an office order issued here today said that all schools in Chamba district will remain closed on Wednesday. — TNS