Dhauladhar hills wear white mantle

Palampur, January 31

After a long spell of dry weather, upper reaches of Dhauladhar hills and Chhota and Bara Bhanghal areas of Palampur region experienced heavy snowfall in the past 20 hours, while lower areas experienced rain.

Following the wet weather, the entire Palampur region is in the grip of severe cold wave. Bara Bhangal has been cut off with the rest of the world following heavy snow at Thamsar Pass at a height of 19,000 feet. A 25-cm snow layer has been recorded at Thamsar Pass.

Reports reaching here said five cm of snow was witnessed at Billing, a major tourist resort and paragliding site till this afternoon while one feet of snow was reported at Kothi Kohar in Chhota Bhanghal.

Normal life in the Palampur region has been paralysed. Power supply and transport services have been hit. Many parts of Baijnath, Jaisinghpur, Sulaha and adjoining areas remained without power supply following snag developed in the transmission lines feeding many parts of Kangra.

Vehicular traffic to Chhota Bhanghal and Billing, the main tourist destinations, has come to a standstill following heavy snow. No bus could reach the upper areas of Chhota Bhanghal today.

Paragliding at Bir Billing has also been suspended by the administration. Tourists have been advised not to visit Billing since the road is covered with snow at many points.

Hundreds of light and heavy vehicles are reported to be stranded at Multhan, Kothi Kohar, Luhardi and Billing. Many villages are without power supply in Chhota Bhanghal since last night following the uprooting of trees on power supply lines.