Jammu, January 15
Heavy snow in the Pirpanjal Ranges in the Doda-Poonch belt blocked the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway today, official sources said here.

Heavy snow blocked Jawahar tunnel causing vehicular traffic to come to a standstill, the sources said.

More than 100 vehicles were stranded at different places on the highway, they said adding the Border Road Organisation (BRO) men and their machines were working round-the-clock to clear the highway from snow.

SHIMLA: Shimla, Kufri and adjoining areas had a snowfall this evening. The season’s first snowfall in Shimla was confined to the upper parts of the town, including Jakhu. The snowfall was preceded by a hailstorm.

The snowfall was continuing at the time of the filing of this report.

MANDI (OC): The entire Manali region and Rohtang Pass experienced fresh snow, while the lower areas of the valley were lashed by rain. The ski slopes of the Solang valley also recorded about two feet of snowfall. The snowfall on the ski slopes has brought cheers for ski lovers.

According to Mr H.S. Chauhan, Director, Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, the first basic ski which was postponed due to lack of sufficient snow will now be conducted on January 17 to 19.