Mild snow greets tourists in Shimla, Kufri, Barog

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 13

Most parts of the state continued to reel under biting cold wave conditions as the temperatures stayed four to 10 degree below normal while the high-altitude tribal areas and mountain passes groaned under the arctic conditions with the minimum temperatures ranged between -10 and -15 degree C.

The region had a clear day this morning but the sky was overcast with thick clouds as the day advanced. Strong-velocity icy winds lashed the region as Shimla and suburbs received intermittent mild snow.

Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Amit Kashyap ordered immediate restoration of essential services in the affected areas. Roads leading to Chopal was still closed to traffic.

He said 10 JCBs and four dozers had been deployed in Chopal, Fagu, Narkanda and Kharapathar to keep the roads open and ensure the smooth movement of vehicles.

He said SDMs had been asked to get regular updates on roads, electricity, water supply and essential services from officials. The PWD and NH authorities had deployed their men and machinery on various spots and the electricity supply had been restored in most areas in the district, he added.

A control room had been set up in the District Emergency Operation Centre, Shimla, with the toll-free number 1077 for sharing the information, the tourists coming to Shimla could see Shimla District facebook page for weather updates, especially the status of roads.

He said 44,830-litre milk and 9,000 packets of bread had been supplied to the city. Kufri and Kalpa recorded 8 cm of snow followed by Kothi 6 cm, Shimla and Udaipur Gondla 3 cm and Sumdoh and Bharmour 2 cm.

Moderate rain occurred at a few places and Bangana was the wettest with 10 mm rain while Salooni recorded 9 mm followed by Manali, Dharamsala and Kheri 8 mm, Rajgarh 6 mm, Solan, Kasauli, Palampur, Chopal , Dharampur, Kahu and Gaggal 5 mm, Dalhousie, Berthin, Jogindernagar, Nagrota Surian 4 mm and Kharapatthar, Sujanpur Tihra, Baijnath and Dehra Gopipur 3 mm.

Dalhousie was the coldest during the day with a high of 2.4 degree followed by Shimla and Manali 7.6 degree each, Dharamsala 14.2 degree, Nahan 14.8 degree, Solan 16 degree and Una 23 degree C.

Keylong and Kalpa recorded the minimum temperatures at -5 degree and -3.8 degree while Manali and Shimla shivered at 0.8 degree and 1.4 degree.

Efforts on to keep roads open

• Ten JCBs and four dozers had been deployed in Fagu, Narkanda and Kharapathar to keep the roads open
• SDMs had been asked to get regular updates on roads, electricity, water supply and essential services from officials
• Kufri and Kalpa recorded 8 cm of snow while Kothi got 6 cm, Shimla and Udaipur Gondla 3 cm and Sumdoh and Bharmour 2-cm snow