SHIMLA: Heavy snowfall across several districts of Himachal Pradesh continued to severely disrupt daily life in the hill state on Sunday, affecting transport, communication, power, water supply and leaving people stranded in cars in freezing temperatures. Lahaul and Spiti district has been cut-off from the rest of the state due to blocked roads. As of Saturday evening, 685 roads were closed, including stretches of NH 3 and NH 505 passing through Lahaul and Spiti. Hundreds of tourists had been stranded in Manali since Friday night, prompting district administration teams to rescue many and shift them to safer locations. Light snowfall continued at isolated places in the higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts, while there were cloudy skies in most parts of the state.
Lahaul-Spiti had the highest number of road closures at 290, followed by 132 in Chamba and 126 in Mandi, as per the state emergency response centre. Additionally, 5,775 power distribution transformers and 126 water supply schemes were still out of operation when this report was filed. Public works department (PWD) minister Vikramaditya Singh said machinery and personnel had been deployed on a war footing to clear roads and restore essential services. Traffic was also affected in Kullu district beyond Patlikuhal towards Manali and beyond Tara Devi in Shimla due to continuous snowfall since Friday.Famous tourist hotspots recorded significant snowfall: Kufri (66cm), Manali (45.8 cm), and Shimla (40cm). Kothi in Kullu’s tribal belt received the highest snowfall in the entire state at 105cm. Other prominent places that received snowfall included Gondla (85 cm), Keylong (75 cm), Khadrala (68.6 cm), Shillaroo (45 cm), Kukumseri (41.4 cm), Sangla (27.5 cm), Bharmaur (26 cm), Saloni (25.4 cm), Jubbal (20 cm), Kalpa (16.4 cm), Moorang (14 cm), Sarahan (11.5 cm), Sangrah and Rohru (8 cm), and Palampur (2 cm).Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest minimum temperature at -7.2°C on Saturday, and Bajaura in Kullu district recorded the highest maximum temperature at 18.2°C. Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of -0.5°C, Manali -0.4°C, Kufri -2.5°C, Narkanda -4.2°C, Dharamshala -5.2°C, Sundernagar 3.7°C, Nahan 6.2°C, and Paonta Sahib 8°C.Mid and lower hill districts received heavy rainfall, with the highest at 91.4 mm in Dharampur of Solan district. Other places that received rainfall included Solan (68.6mm), Slapper (54.8mm), Una (54.2mm), Palampur and Nagrota Suriyan (53.2mm), Ghaghas (52.6mm), Gohar (52mm), Nahan (51.9mm), Mehre Barsar (48mm), Kangra (45.3mm), Pachchad (44.4mm), Kotkhai (44.1mm), Sundernagar (43mm), Naina Devi (42.4mm), and Sandhole (40.6mm).The meteorological department has predicted light rain or snow on Jan 25 at isolated places over the high hills of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur, and upper parts of Kullu and Mandi districts. Dense fog and a cold wave is likely at isolated places in Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur districts on Jan 25.As a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from Jan 26, light to moderate rain or snow is likely at a few places over the state on Jan 26 and 28, but at most places over Himachal Pradesh on Jan 27, with one or two spells of heavy rain or snow likely at isolated places. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds have been predicted at isolated places in the state on Jan 27. Dry weather is likely over the state on Jan 29 and 30.The revenue department has issued an advisory following the alert of a western disturbance. District disaster management authorities have been directed to activate round-the-clock monitoring, review evacuation plans, and issue timely public warnings.
