Shimla, November 30
The state experienced a severe cold wave as the entire tribal belt and some pockets in the mid hills had a fresh round of snow.
According to reports received here, the tribal Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts and the higher reaches of Kulu ,Shimla and Sirmour districts were having intermittent snow since last evening. The snow affected communication within the Lahual and Spiti valleys which have been already cut off from the rest of the state due to closure of high mountain passes early this month.
The tourist resort of Manali recorded the second snowfall of the season this morning. However, the thin sheet of snow melted as the day progressed. The famous ski slopes at Solang nullah had 40 cm of snow and the Rohtang pass more than 60 cm. The road from Manali to Marhi was blocked and vehicles could ply only upto Kothi.
The Hatoo peak overlooking Narkanda ,the Churdhar range and the towering Dhauladhars in Kangra also had a fresh round of snow. The lower area in of Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur had scattered rains.
Brisk showers lashed the city and the surrounding areas in the morning which brought down the temperature considerably. The people shivered in extreme cold as the sky remained overcast and icy winds lashed the region throughout the day. Reports of mild rain were also received from other areas of the state.
The rain is considered good for the sowing of rabi crop in the lower hill areas. With clouds dark clouds still hovering around in the sky ,the apple growers are hoping that the weather god will oblige them with a good snowfall. The snow which is considered as a white manure for the apple orchards, is essential for a good harvest.
MANALI: The entire upper Manali region experienced a fresh spell of snowfall , while the lower parts of the region were lashed by rain on Tuesday renewing the cold wave in the region. The entire region has been covered with a thick blanket of snow.
The higher reaches of the Kulu Valley, including the Pir Panjal range, Brighu slopes ,Chanderkhani Pass, Hamta Pass, Marhi, Gulaba, Kothi ,Dhundhi and Rohtang Pass experienced moderate to heavy snow fall.
Vehicular traffic on the Manali - Rohtang road was disrupted due to fresh snow at several places beyond Kothi about 14 km from here .
The 13,050 foot-high Rohtang Pass the gateway to Lahaul — Spiti experienced heavy snowfall last night and again snapping the road link between Manali and the Lahaul valley .The Manali - Leh highway which was officially closed for vehicular traffic on November 1 but remained open due to the dry spell, has closed on Tuesday morning due to the fresh snowfall.
DALHOUSIE:
The Dainkund peak at an altitude of about 2800 metres in the suburbs of famous Dalhousie hill station received the first spell of snowfall of the winter season on Monday night. At a sequel to this, there is sharp downfall in the temperature, which had plummeted to 6°C in Dalhousie this morning, according to reports received here.
SRINAGAR:
Srinagar and its adjoining areas experienced the season’s first snowfall this morning. But it compounded the acute power crisis with the ruling and the Opposition political parties maintaining a stoic silence, a UNI report said.
The snowfall, which began around 6 a.m., continued for an hour. Electric poles, roads, tree and rooftops were covered under a thin blanket of snow in the valley. This being the first snowfall of the season, people were seen greeting each other.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Khilanmarg and tourist spots of Sonmarg, Yusmarg and the border areas also received snowfall.
Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, also experienced snowfall since early this morning.
Reports of heavy snowfall were also received from holy Amarnath cave, Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pissu top and upper reaches in the South Kashmir since last night.
An official spokesman said the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was open for both way traffic despite light snowfall and rains.
However, the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway has been closed for winter due to heavy
snowfall at Zojila last week.
