Snowfall disrupts normal life in Himachal's higher hills, 475 roads blocked

Shimla/Rampur, February 4

The state received widespread rainfall and light snowfall at isolated places since Saturday evening, pushing the average maximum temperatures markedly below normal in the state.

While the snowfall was restricted to four districts – Shimla, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur – rains lashed almost the entire state, with Solan (39 mm) and Hamirpur (27mm) recording the highest rainfall.

Due to the latest precipitation, 475 roads and 333 distribution transformers (DTRs) are yet to be restored across the state. As many as 57 water supply schemes are also affected. The maximum roads are blocked in Lahaul and Spiti (157), followed by Shimla district (133). As for DTRs, the most affected is district Chamba, with 125 transformers still out of order.

Due to the precipitation, stones and boulders have started falling at Krape, which is near the landslide prone Nigulsari in Kinnaur district. Considering the danger to the commuters at this point, the district administration has issued the orders to stop the movement of vehicles from 7pm to 5am.

According to the Weather Department, the precipitation will continue tomorrow as well and from February 6 onwards, the weather is likely to clear up. On Monday, the forecast is for rain at isolated places in plains and low hills. In mid and higher hills, the forecast is for rain/snow at few places.

The precipitation that started from January 31 has provided a huge relief to the farmers and horticulturalists in the state as the prolonged dry spell had adversely affected the crops. it has led to the arrival of more tourists, which has provided a massive relief to the stakeholders in the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, the upper reaches of Dhauladhar hills and Chhota and Bara Bhangal areas of Palampur region witnessed heavy snowfall in the past 20 hours, while lower areas experienced intermittent rain.