Shimla sees earliest snowfall since 2010

A light sprinkling of snowflakes started in Shimla late evening on Sunday, leaving the tourists pleasantly surprised.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, Updated At : 06:38 AM Dec 10, 2024 IST

A worker throws sand on a slippery road at the Lakkar Bazaar in Shimla on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: LALIT KUMAR

On Sunday, Shimla witnessed the earliest snowfall in the last 14 years. Prior to this precipitation, the earliest snowfall in the city since 2010 was recorded in 2012. “According to the data we have maintained since 2010, it’s the earliest snowfall in the city. The previous earliest snowfall occurred on December 12 in 2012,” said an official of the weather department. As per the Weather Department, the city received 2.5 cm snowfall on Sunday night.

A light sprinkling of snowflakes started in Shimla late evening on Sunday, leaving the tourists pleasantly surprised. “We were not expecting snowfall, so were pleasantly surprised when it started snowing last evening. We felt really good and enjoyed a lot,” said Bharat Bhushan, a tourist from Delhi. A couple from Andhra Pradesh was also delighted to see their first snowfall. “We had just reached Shimla from Manali when it started snowing here. It was wonderful to see the first ever snowfall of our lives,” the couple said.

The early snowfall has brought cheer to the hoteliers and other stakeholders of the tourism industry as well. The hoteliers are expecting that the snowfall will boost up the bookings for Christmas and New Year celebrations in the city. “Until yesterday, the queries for hotel booking were on the lower side. But we are hopeful that the bookings will increase following the snowfall in the city,” said Mohinder Seth, president of the Shimla Hotels and Tourism Stakeholders Association. Incidentally, Shimla has received scanty snowfall over the last two years.

An early snowfall has raised the hopes of good snowfall this year in the city. The Weather Department, however, says that the early snowfall can’t be seen as an indicator of good snowfall over the remaining winters. “The snowfall will depend on how intense and deep western disturbances the region gets in winters,” said an official from the weather department.

Yet, there’s no denying that the city has had an early and promising start this year as far as snowfall is concerned.