M A I N   N E W S

Chamba peaks get season’s first snowfall
Ravinder Sood & Balkrishan Prashar

Chamba/Palampur, Oct 23
The higher reaches of Chamba district today experienced the season’s first spell of snowfall.

According to reports reaching the district headquarters, the road from Chamba to Killar, which crosses over the 4,413-m Saach Pass that links the mountainous Pangi valley with the district headquarters of Chamba, has been closed to vehicular traffic after it received one-foot snow.

The Pir Panjal ranges adjacent to the Saach Pass have also been experiencing snowfall while widespread rains are lashing low-lying areas in Palampur district.

The snowfall sent chilly winds whistling into the lower reaches leading to a sharp decline in temperature. The entire region is in the grip of cold-wave conditions.

Heavy snow was also reported in Kangra’s Dhauladhar hills and in the upper reaches of Bara Bhangal today morning while intermittent rain lashed the lower areas.

The entire Kangra valley is in the grip of a severe cold wave. Making matters worse is an acute shortage of kerosene, charcoal and firewood in the Kangra valley. A majority of charcoal and firewood depots are yet to receive supplies as snow and rain are not expected in the valley at this time of the year.

Heavy rainfall was also reported from Manali and other parts of Kullu district. The Border Roads Organisation has issued an advisory to avoid the Manali-Leh highway as snowfall is likely.