SHIMLA: Upper areas of the state remained cut off by road from rest of the country on Monday following moderate to heavy snowfall in higher areas of the state, disrupting normal life during the past 48 hours.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has stopped plying night bus services on National Highway-22 beyond Shimla due to bad weather. The high way remained blocked beyond Narkanda by road due to heavy snowfall and the traffic for Rampur had to be diverted via Basantpur-Kingal road.
The traffic for Rohru was also blocked at Kharapathar where about one feet of snow had accumulated.
The communication and power supply has been disrupted due to heavy snowfall in the entire Lahaul Spiti district since last three days.
According to Met office, Keylong, district headquaraters of Lahaul was coldest with minus 4.9 degrees Celsius. Shimla recorded 4.7 degrees.
Snow Avalanches Research Institute at Manali has warned that people living in snow bound areas should remain inside, as there are chances of snow avalanches.
According to Met department director Man Mohan Singh, “Till early morning on Monday, Manali recorded two-and-a half-feet snowfall, which continued heavily till late evening.”
According to Singh, “In the last 48 hours, Dundi in Lahaul Spiti recorded the highest snowfall in the state in the last 48 hours, measuring over 121 cm followed by Solang Nullah near Manali (91 cm). Keylong and Udaipur in Lahaul Spiti received about 55 and 34 cm of snow, respectively.”
Pangi in Chamba district also saw heavy snowfall. It recorded about four feet of snow. “All road links to Pangi have been cut off due to heavy snowfall,’ Pangi’s Resident Commissioner Gopal Sharma told Hindustan Times over a phone.
Lower areas of the state, including Shimla, Solan, Dharamsala, Una, Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Nahan and Mandi, have been receiving intermittent rainfall.
The Met department has forecasted that an active western disturbance will continue to affect the state and adjoining Western Himalayan region and plains of northwest India during the next 48 hours.
Rainfall and moderate to heavy snowfall will continue and occur at most places in the state during this period. The Met department has also forecasted that another western disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan region on February 11 and February 12, due to which few places are likely to experience rain and snowfall.
SOURCE-HT
