Chhota Bhangal gets 90 cm snow

Upper reaches of Dhauladhar hills and Chhota Bhangal and Bara Bhangal areas of the Palampur region experienced heavy snowfall in the past 20 hours, while lower areas experienced heavy rain.

The entire Palampur region is in the grip of a severe cold wave. Bara Bhangal has been cut off from the rest of the state following heavy snowfall at the Thamsar Pass (19,000 feet).

According to information, 35 cm of snow was recorded at Billing and 90 cm at Kothi Kohar in Chhota Bhangal till this afternoon.

Normal life in the Palampur region was paralysed. Power supply and transport services were also hit. Many parts of lower areas of Palampur, Baijnath, Jaisinghpur, Sullah and adjoining areas remained without power for hours following a snag in the transmission lines feeding many parts of Kangra.

Vehicular traffic to Chhota Bhangal and Billing came to a halt following heavy snowfall. No bus could reach the upper areas of Chhota Bhangal today. Paragliding at Bir-Billing was also suspended. Tourists were advised not to visit Billing as the road was covered with snow. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Multhan, Kothi Kohar, Luhardi, Bir-Billing and Barot. Many villages were without power supply since last night as uprooted trees fell on power supply lines. Heavy snow and rain were likely to continue for the next 24 hours.