Snow in Lahaul, Rohtang intensifies cold

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 11

The fresh snowfall intensified the cold waves hitting normal life in the tribal district Lahaul & Spiti today. The harsh cold weather forced the residents to remain indoors throughout the day.

The entire valley experienced bone-chilling cold after the district received a mild snowfall. The lower areas of Mandi and Kullu experienced showers, which brought cheers to the faces of farmers as they had been waiting for these desperately for a long time.

Despite the fresh snowfall in Lahaul & Spiti, the traffic movement was normal in the district today. The Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul, however, has been closed again to the traffic movement.

Rohtang, Saach, Kunzam and Chansel passes and other high-altitude tribal areas were experiencing intermittent snow.

Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul Spiti, Deva Singh Negi said people had been advised to refrain from visiting the high-altitude areas in the coming days in view of the inclement weather.

DC, Kullu, Yunus said he will issue a direction regarding the closure of Rohtang Pass tomorrow, depending upon the weather conditions. The district administration has made adequate arrangements to face the challenge of snowfall and besides mobilising snow clearing machinery, all concerned public utility departments have been asked to remain in state of readiness.

Farmers happy 

Una/Hamirpur: Farmers of Una and Hamirpur districts welcomed the first rainfall of the rabi season today. Intermittent rainfall continued throughout the day. Dense clouds prevailing overhead promise to bring in more precipitation during the night.

Una district is known as the food bowl of the state as wheat is cultivated on more than 55,000 hectares of land. While about 40 per cent agriculture land is irrigated, the rest depends on rainfall for irrigation.

Most of the farmers in the district are dependent on rain as limited cultivated land is under irrigation here. — OC