M A I N   N E W S

Valley cut off, flights cancelled
Snow in Shimla, Chamba, Manali
From Tribune Reporters

SRINAGAR, Jan 22 — Breaking a long dry spell, Kashmir and its upper reaches witnessed heavy snow since yesterday. While heavy snow was reported from the upper reaches like Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, a thick blanket of snow covered most parts of the valley today.

The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road link that connects Kashmir to the rest of the country, was closed to traffic following accumulation of heavy snow yesterday afternoon. However, the police said vehicles stranded on the highway at Banihal, 100 km from here, were allowed to move to Srinagar today,

Traffic on various routes from Sopore and Baramula was disrupted due to heavy snow. Reports from Gurez and Bandipore in Baramula district revealed that heavy snow was witnessed throwing life out of gear. All flights have also been cancelled.

Over the years, the valley has been witnessing a steep decline in snow which in turn has led to dry winter and low water level in rivers. The valley is reeling under acute power shortage these days due to a decline in the water level.

SHIMLA: Farmers heaved a sigh of relief as widespread snow and rain lashed the region over the past 24 hours.

While tribal areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi have been experiencing heavy snow since Monday. Important tourist places including Manali, Shimla, Narkanda, Chail and Kufri, were lashed by snow and sleet accompanied with high velocity winds in the afternoon.

According to a report, 25 cm of snow was recorded in Keylong by the evening. The Chansal range and Hatoo peak were under a thick blanket of snow.

Shimla was lashed by sleet for an hour. The sky is still overcast and farmers are hoping for more snow and rain over the next few days. The region had been facing drought as there was no rain since the monsoon.

The sowing of rabi crops had been delayed due to the dry spell in most areas.

A UNI report from Dharamsala said Mcleodgang, upper Dharamsala and Palampur and Maranda also experienced first snow of the season after a long dry spell.

The entire Kangra valley experienced rain with chilly winds.

It snowed at Maranda after a gap of few years.

MANALI: Manali and its adjoining areas had the season’s first snow on Monday. The lower areas were lashed by rain.

Traffic on the Manali-Rohtang road was distributed at several beyond Nehru Kund 5 km from here. Skiing slopes of the Solang valley, Brighu and Hamta Pass experienced one to three feet of snow.

The Rohtang Pass and the Pir Panjal range have been experienced heavy snow since Sunday.

The snow will be beneficial to horticulturist and argiculturists as they expect a good crop.

CHAMBA: The Chamba hills and the adjoining hills of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir have been experiencing heavy snow since Sunday. The lower areas had widespread rain.

SHIMLA (UNI): The town and its surrounding areas on Monday experienced the season’s second snow, intensifying the cold wave in the region and once again reviving the new year’s spirit among tourists holidaying here.

Thick snow flakes accompanied by high velocity winds send the mercury plummeting. Reports of snow were also received from Narkanda, Fagu, Baghi, Khadarala, Kufri and Naldher.

MANDI: Farmers heaved a sigh of relief when it started raining in the lower areas. The hills experienced snow on Monday.

Reports from Barot, Chuhar and Chachiot valleys said it started snowing there in the morning. Reports of widespread snow have also been received from Prashar and Shikari Devi. It has been snowing incessantly in the Chachiot valley.

According to a PTI report the temperature in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh soared following cloudy weather across the region. Most of the places in the region registered above normal temperature due to cloudiness, a Met office spokesman said here.

Amritsar was the coldest place in the region as the mercury recorded a low of 1.7°C which was 3°C below normal.

The mercury jumped up to 8.4°C in Chandigarh, 7.2°C in Hisar, 6.2°C in Narnaul, 5°C in Ambala and 7°C in Patiala.

Few places in the region, including Adampur, Pathankot, Bathinda, Sirsa and Halwara, were foggy earlier in the day.

The Met office has predicted cloudy weather in Punjab and Haryana with a possibility of rain at a few places during the next 24 hours.