100 roads blocked after heavy snow

Tribune Reporters

Shimla, February 3

Several areas were cut off and power supply was disrupted at many places as the entire tribal belt, mountain passes and higher hills experienced heavy snow in the past 24 hours. Mid and lower hills were lashed by heavy intermittent rain, causing a sharp fall in temperatures.

The Hindustan-Tibet National Highway, which was blocked due to snow at Narkanda, was closed to traffic beyond Tapri while the Manali-Rohtang highway and the Jalori Pass were closed due to heavy snow. Rampur and Tapri-bound buses were being routed through Basantpur and Kingal while Theog-Jubbal and Theog-Nerwa roads were closed at Khara Patthar and Chopal.

About 100 roads, including most of the link roads in interior areas of Kinnaur district and upper Manali and Rohtang region, upper Shimla, Chamba, Sirmaur and Kullu districts were closed. The snowfall disrupted power supply and several villages in Kinnaur and Sirmaur districts were without electricity.

The Rohtang Pass recorded 100 cm of snow in the past 24 hours while Kalpa and the upper Manali region recorded 60 to 80 cm of snow, Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recorded 25 cm of snow while Manali and Shimla had 11cm and 5 cm of snow till this afternoon.

Moorang recorded 30 mm of snow, followed by Narkanda 20 cm, Khara Patthar 15 cm, Khadrala 13 cm, Bharmaur 8 cm and Theog 4 cm. Kufri, Fagu, Jubbal, Chopal, Haripur Dhar and several areas also experienced moderate snowfall. Sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur, Chansel Pass and the Pin-Parvati valley had been experiencing intermittent heavy snowfall since yesterday morning, creating intense cold wave conditions in adjoining valley areas.

Dharamsala was the wettest in the region with 50 mm rain while Kangra, Saloni and Manali recorded 46 mm, 39 mm, 38 mm rain, followed by Jhungi and Kasauli 34 mm and 32 mm, Kheri and Dharampur 31 mm, Bhuntar 30 mm, Jogindernagar, Kasol, Chamba and Seobagh 29 mm, Baijnath, Gaggal, Kandaghat and Solan 26 mm, Hamirpur and Nauni 25 mm and Shimla 19 mm.

High velocity icy winds lashed the region and sky remained overcast bringing down the day temperature by a few notches. Nahan was the hottest during the day with a high of 17.2 degree, followed by Una 16.7 degree.

The local MeT office has predicted heavy snowfall at isolated places in higher hills tomorrow and dry weather in the region from February 5.

Heavy snow in Chamba

Chamba: The high-altitude areas of the district, including Bharmour and Pangi mountainous terrains, had been experiencing heavy snowfall since this morning, according to reports reaching here this evening. Dalhousie and Khajjiar were also having fresh snowfall.

Agro-horticulture expert RL Chauhan was hopeful of better apple, plum, peach and apricot crop. The size of the apple was expected to be large this year, he said.

Rain hits life in Kangra

Kangra: The Kangra valley shivered after the valley was lashed by rain for the entire day today. The snowfall on the Dhauldhars and rain in the valley dropped the mercury.

Icy cold winds forced people to remain indoors and left the markets deserted. The Air India flight was diverted back to Delhi due to bad weather at the Kangra airport, KK Sharma, Director, Kangra airport, said. The reports of the rain were received from Jwalamukhi, Shahpur, Dhraman, Nagrota Bagwan, Gaggal, Mallan, Palampur, Dehra, Ranital Dharamsala and McLeodganj.