Snow, rain send several places sub-zero in Himachal Pradesh, render 405 roads shut; avalanche warning issued

Shimla, February 21

Authorities on Wednesday issued avalanche warning for several areas in the state as cold wave got further aggravated following fresh snow and rain in the tribal and hilly region.

The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh, has issued an avalanche warning for high-altitude areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Chamba and Kullu districts till Thursday.

Sixty-one people have died due to landslides, falling from height, drowning and fire since January 1 in the state. Two people went missing.

A total of 405 roads, including four national highways, were rendered shut by snow and 577 electricity transformers were disrupted, the state emergency response centre said.

Lahaul and Spiti had the most number of roads, 288, closed, followed by Chamba and Kullu, which had 83 and 21 roads rendered unnavigable.

Koksar and Atal Tunnel received 45 cm of snow, followed by Sissu and Kothi, which got 30 cm.

Keylong, Kusumseri and Bharmour got 18 cm, 15.3 cm, and 8 cm of snow. Manali was wettest with 29 mm of rain, followed by Salooni, and Tissa, and Chamba, which got 25.3 mm, 20 mm, 16 mm of it.

Seobagh and Baijnath got 11 mm and 8 mm of rain.