Shimla in cold grip, season's heaviest snowfall throws life out of gear

Shimla saw the season's heaviest snowfall, disrupting life in the city. According to reports, many tourists were stranded in Kufri, Narkanda, Manali and Dalhousie as officials said 879 roads in the state were blocked due to heavy snowfall. The Shimla Police has rescued 43 stranded tourists. Authorities had advised people not to travel to Shimla and Manali owing to the snowfall.

Forty roads were blocked in Nahan's Sangrah, Shillai, Sarahan and Rajgarh sub divisions.

As news of the snowfall spread, tourists flocked to this resort destination, known for the imperial grandeur of its buildings that were once institutions of power when the town served as the summer capital of British India.

A total of 588 roads were closed, 2,436 electricity supply lines disrupted and 33 water supply schemes hampered. In eight districts of the state snow ranging between one to four feet had accumulated at different locations.

District Disaster Management Authority Kullu said vehicles were not being allowed to go beyond the green tax barrier in Manali. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has directed all the Deputy Commissioners and officers concerned to ensure that all essential services are restored in the areas affected due to snowfall at the earliest.