M A I N   N E W S

Fresh snowfall in Shimla
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, Feb 6 — The capital town of Shimla and higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh had fresh snowfall while lower areas had intermittent rain today, renewing cold wave in the region.

Icy-cold winds blew across the town and its surrounding areas during the day.

However, tourist and snow lovers were seen having fun and frolic at the historic ridge maidan, the hub of tourists activities.

Upper areas of Shimla district including tourist resorts of Kufri, Narkanda Khadapatter also had fresh snowfall.

The 320-km Hindustan-Tibet road continued to remain closed for vehicular traffic beyond Kufri due to snowfall. Traffic for Rampur in Shimla district has been diverted via Basantpur-Kingal road.

The Shimla-Chopal road also continues to remain blocked.

High altitude areas in tribal belt, the Rohtang pass and Dhauladhar mountain ranges had another spell of snowfall today.

Lower areas, including Dharamsala, Mandi, Solan and Sirmour had experienced rain.

DALHOUSIE: Dalhousie hills had fresh snowfall and the hills of Jammu and Kashmir adjacent to Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh had heavy snowfall for the past 36 hours. The low-lying areas of this region had heavy rain.

As a sequel to this, the lower parts of Chamba region are in grip of icy cold winds.

Hydro-experts say that the heavy snowfall on the massifs of Dhauladhars and Shivalik ranges is a store for the summers which would help in generating power on hydro-power projects and the snow waters percolating through the hill slopes would prove beneficial to the irrigation of the crops in the plains.

SIRSA: Wet weather that brought relief to the farmers, has caused havoc in the city as roads and streets turn marshy.

After the meagre monsoon, the farmers had faced problems. The current rain is believed to make good of the loss of crop that they had suffered. But at the same time, the city people are facing great problems as the three-day long wet and sunless weather has made the city muddy. The condition of main bazaar is deplorable. Like every shower, this rain has also exposed the loopholes in drainage and sewerage system which lies at the mercy of administration.