Fresh snowfall cripples life in Lahaul

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
 Mandi, November 2

Fresh snowfall crippled normal life in Lahaul-Spiti on Friday. Keylong witnessed 15-cm snow, while a few high-altitude areas like Gondhla, Koksar and Miyar valley recorded more than 2 ft snow.

The movement of vehicles came to a halt, with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus service between Lahaul and Kullu being suspended due to heavy snowfall at the Rohtang Pass.

The entire district is in the grip of bone-chilling cold, which is forcing locals to stay indoors. The district administration is yet to restore the supply of kerosene. The district has been without power since morning and the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board is struggling to rectify the fault. Since September 22, most parts of Lahaul-Spiti have been without power.

With the fresh snowfall damaging the lines, locals have no idea how to go about their daily chores.

Tashi Dawa, pradhan of Kardang panchayat, said the fresh snowfall had aggravated their woes. “There is no power. Vehicular movement has also stopped. Chances of restoration seem bleak,” he added. This year, inclement weather caused huge losses to famers. Earlier, crops were damaged because of untimely snowfall in September and now this fresh snowfall has blocked the supply of apple to HPMC collection centres for marketing. Mangal Chand Manepa, regional manager, HRTC, Keylong depot, said plying buses would be risky as roads are slippery.

“The HRTC has stopped its bus service within the valley. it is waiting for the weather to improve. The bus service between Lahaul and Kullu was suspended on Friday as the Rohtang Pass was closed,” he said. Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Ashwani Kumar Chaudhari has issued an advisory, asking residents to stay indoors for the next few days. He said they had already stocked up on essentials and were awaiting the supply of kerosene. In Mandi, high-altitude areas like Shikari Devi, Kamrunag, Barot and Chohar valley received mild snowfall.