Snowfall in Kufri cheers up tourists

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 1

Thousands of tourists who thronged Shimla to ring in New Year were disappointed as snow eluded the Queen of Hills, but mild snowfall in Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda late in the afternoon cheered them up.

Ecstatic tourists enjoyed the snowfall which lasted about an hour, but as the rain followed, ice started freezing in the evening making roads slippery and driving hazardous, resulting in massive a traffic jam near Kufri. The thrill of enjoying snow soon turned into a nightmare as hundreds of tourist vehicles were stranded at Kufri for more than two hours and the police trying hard to clear the jam.

“We enjoyed the snowfall, but now we are feeling uneasy and want the jam to be cleared so that we can reach our hotel,” said a couple stranded at Kufri.

The Met office has predicted more snow and rain in the region for five days from January 3 as a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region.

It is snowing in tribal areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Bharmour, Pangi, high mountain passes of Rohtang, Chansel, Saach, Kunzam, Dhauladhars and Churdhar in Kangra and Sirmaur, aggravating the cold wave conditions in the adjoining valleys.

The snowfall has brought cheers to farmers and apple growers as it is considered favourable for rabi and apple crops. The rain deficit post-monsoon is 92 per cent.

Ashwani and Sonica from Karnal said: “We were returning to Shimla and had crossed Dhalli when we learnt that it was snowing in Kufri. We rushed back. It was thrilling to see the snowflakes floating and gradually falling on the ground. But now we are stuck, waiting for the road to be cleared.”

The prediction of snow in the first week of January has definitely given hope to the tourism industry.

The huge influx of tourists on New Year cheered the ailing hotel industry, especially after the worst-ever low in the aftermath of demonetisation. “It seems that the people let go on New Year after holding back for almost close to two months,” remarked an elated hotelier and owner of amusement park at Kufri, Nishant Nag.

The New Year passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported as the police had made adequate arrangements to maintain law and order. Gala New Year nights were organised at posh hotels and people gathered in large numbers on The Ridge and Mall Road to ring in the New Year and celebrations continued till past mid-night.

Meanwhile, intense cold wave swept across the region. In Shimla, the minimum and maximum temperatures dipped to 4.6 degrees Celsius and 14.1 degrees Celsius. High-velocity winds lashed the town and the sky remained heavily overcast. Keylong and Kalpa recorded the minimum temperature at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, and minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, while Bhuntar and Solan recorded a low of 3.0 degrees Celsius and 3.6 degrees Celsius.