M A I N   N E W S

Chill back as snow, rain lash region
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14
Whereas a fresh spell of moderate-to-heavy snowfall in upper Shimla, Kinnaur and landlocked Lahaul-Spiti hit normal life in those areas, rain in the plains, especially in most part of Punjab and Haryana, has farmers worried.

Mercury took a plunge in most parts of Himachal Pradesh with Keylong recording the lowest temperature of minus 17°C. A report from the Shimla said 48 buses were stuck in upper Shimla and Kinnaur due to heavy snowfall today. Moorang in Kinnaur and Churdhar in Shimla recorded more than 120 cm of snowfall, while Jhakhu hills in the capital city recorded more than six-inches of fresh snowfall.

Narakanda, Chopal and Kharapathar received more than two feet of snowfall, said local people on the phone. While traffic to Kufri, Narkanda, Kharapathar, Rohru and Chopal remains disrupted since last night, Shimla also witnessed traffic snarls after fresh snowfall. Many office-goers had to park their vehicles alongside roads in Jhakhu and Sanjauli areas and walk back home on foot. The bus service also was suspended later in the evening.

Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner JS Pathania said the traffic remained suspended on the Wangtoo-Pooh highway. Snowfall was around two feet at Reckong Peo and three feet at Chitkul, the last village in the Sangla valley. No untoward incident was, however, reported from anywhere.