Rain, snowfall continue to disrupt life across state

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 27

Normal life was disrupted in many parts of Himachal Pradesh as the cold wave intensified in the region today. Higher altitude areas received moderate snowfall, while lower and middle hills were lashed with mild rain.

Manali, Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda and the Sangla valley had another spell of moderate snowfall, while the Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar Ranges in Sirmaur, Rohtang, Kunzam and Chansel passes and higher reaches in Kullu, Chamba and Kinnaur experienced heavy snowfall.

Thick fog engulfed the region reducing visibility and hampering vehicular and air traffic. About 40 roads in the interiors of Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts were blocked due to snow and vehicular traffic was disrupted in the upper Shimla region. Traffic jams were also seen on the Theog-Rohroo and Theog-Chopal roads.

Kalpa received 15 cm of snow, while Khadrala and Bagi had 7 cm of snow. Keylong and Udaipur in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district had moderate snowfall, while the upper reaches in the Haripur Dhar area of Sirmaur received 20 cm of fresh snow.

Baijnath, Sundernagar, Kotkhai, Palampur, Bhandal, Dharamsala, Kasauli, Saloni and Kasol received intermittent rain.

Naresh Sharma, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, said about 40 roads, including 14 roads in Gohar division of Mandi district, were blocked and would be opened on Wednesday.

Nahan was the hottest during the day with maximum 13.9°C, while Bhunter and Solan recorded a high of 13.6°C, followed by Dharamsala at 13.2°C, Sundernagar 10°C, Shimla 7.2°C, Kalpa 3.4°C and Manali 2.6°C.

Manali recorded a minimum temperature at minus 1.6°C, followed by Shimla 1.7°C, Dharamsala 4.0°C, Palampur 4.5°C, Bhuntar 5.8°C and Sundernagar 7.6°C.