Snowfall disrupts life in Lahaul-Spiti

Fresh snowfall in the Lahaul and Spiti district today has caused widespread disruptions, severely impacting normal life in the region. The region has been hit with a cold wave following the snowfall, and authorities are working round-the-clock to restore essential services.

Since early morning, power supply in the Lahaul region has been disrupted, with technical snags in the power supply lines from Manali side near Atal Tunnel exacerbating the situation. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) workforce has been working to rectify the fault, but as per the latest reports, the power supply has yet to be fully restored.

The fresh snowfall has intensified the cold wave gripping the district, pushing the temperatures further down. Local authorities have issued a warning for potential avalanches in the snow-prone areas of the district for the next 24 hours. The district administration has advised people to avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas due to the heightened risk of snowfalls and avalanches.

As of today, 104 roads in Lahaul and Spiti have been blocked due to heavy snowfall since February 26. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Public Works Department (PWD) have been working hard to clear the snow and restore connectivity, but with the ongoing snowfall, progress has been slow. The district continues to face logistical challenges due to these road blockages. The snowfall has severely affected electricity distribution across the district. A total of 32 electricity transformers have been disrupted, further compounding the power outage issue.

Given the current situation, the district administration has issued an advisory urging the general public and tourists to refrain from unnecessary travel in the region until the weather conditions improve. The advisory also emphasises the importance of following safety measures and staying updated on weather warnings. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to restore normalcy while ensuring the safety of residents and travellers alike.

Today, mild showers of rain were observed in the lower parts of Kullu, Mandi and other regions of Himachal Pradesh. According to the latest weather forecast, light to moderate rain/snow is expected at a few places in the districts of Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur, along with the higher reaches of Chamba, Kangra and Kullu on March 16. Isolated light rain/snow is likely to occur on March 17, 19 and 20 in the same regions.

The weather is expected to be mainly dry on March 18 and 21 across the state, with no significant rainfall anticipated.