Heavy snow snaps power supply in Lahaul-Spiti

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 3

A fresh snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti has snapped communications and power supply in the Lahaul valley since Friday.

Keylong has received 1.5-foot snow till Saturday evening, while the higher reaches has more than two feet snow. The power supply has been erratic at Keylong while the Miyar valley, Darcha and Tindi have been reeling under darkness. Mobile services have been out of order in most part of Lahaul.

Ashok Kumar, a resident of Lahaul, said with the disruption of power supply, the internet and mobile services were out of order. People were facing difficulty to communicate with their near and dear ones.

He said due to tough topographic conditions, people of the district made arrangements like the storage of food, fuel and other essential commodities in advance for the winter season because every year, Lahaul had cut-off with the rest of the state for months. The Meteorological Department has warned of more snow till November 4 in higher altitude areas. The district administration, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti, have issued advisory for people to avoid venturing towards these areas.

The residents have been cut off with the rest of the state as Rohtang has been closed to the vehicular movement since Friday.

Tourist places close to Manali like the Solang valley, Gulaba and Kothi have received fresh snow which delighted the tourists as well as hoteliers of Kullu-Manali. The tourist influx is increasing in Kullu-Manali these days.

In lower parts of Mandi and Kullu district, rain lashed throughout the day, plummeting the temperature drastically. The people were forced to wear jackets and woollens.