Early snow brings cheer to HP orchardists
Rainfall and light but widespread snowfall since Sunday evening ended the two-month-long dry spell in Himachal, bringing cheer to farmers, apple growers and hoteliers.
The maximum 6.7 cm snowfall was recorded in Koksar (Lahaul and Spiti), followed by 5 cm in Khadrala (Shimla), 4 cm each in Chopal (Shimla) and Sangla (Kinnaur) and 2.5 cm in Shimla. In several other parts, light rainfall was recorded.
Though there is no forecast for another spell of rain or snow for at least a week, the current spell has brought relief to the farmers and orchardists. Sameer Sharma, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture, said the rain would help the rabi crops. “At some places, farmers were waiting for some rain for sowing wheat. They can go ahead now. The rain will help in the germination process of the crops already sown,” he said.
Lokinder Bisht, an apple grower from Shimla, said the snowfall would push the plants into dormancy. “This time, leaf fall has been delayed due to the absence of rain since September.
The snowfall will lead to leaf fall and push the plants into dormancy. Once that happens, apple growers can start pruning on a large scale,” he said. The fruit growers can also start the application of fertilisers and manure, wherever there is enough moisture.
Intense cold wave conditions persisted with temperatures staying two to six degrees Celsius below freezing point in several high-altitude areas. The post-monsoon rainfall deficit in the state from October 1 to December 9 decreased from 98 per cent to 96 per cent due to light rain and snowfall. The state received just 2.1 mm of rain as compared to the normal rainfall of 49.3 mm during this period. The rain deficit was 100 per cent in Chamba, 99 per cent in Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmaur, and Hamirpur, 97 per cent in Kangra and Solan, and 96 per cent in Shimla.
Meanwhile, over 80 roads were closed and nearly 400 power distribution transformers were disrupted due to rain and snow. Though most of the restoration work was done by Monday evening, 15 roads and 18 transformers were yet to be made operational.
