Shimla, surrounding areas get more snow

Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 1

As many as 527 roads, including three national highways, were blocked as mid and higher hills of the state experienced fresh snowfall while lower hills were lashed by rain on Friday, plummeting the minimum temperatures further. Inclement weather has also hampered road restoration work in the state.

Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by sharp showers and sleet, followed by light snowfall. The Shimla-Kalka national highway and interconnecting roads in the town are however, open to traffic. People remained confined to their homes in view of piercing cold wave conditions.

Bharmaur and Dalhousie recorded 60 cm and 48 cm of snow. Khadrala recorded 34 cm of snow, Kothi 22 cm and Pooh 17 cm. Keylong received 11 cm of snow, Kufri, Kalpa and Salooni 13 cm each, Theog 8 cm and Udaipur and Manali 4 mm. Shimla received traces of snow.

Most roads in upper Shimla, including the Hindustan-Tibet national highway, are closed beyond Dhalli while vehicular movement to Rampur has been diverted via Basantpur and Kingal. Efforts are being made to restore road connectivity in Chopal, Rohru and Kumarsein.

“Although light vehicles are still plying on some roads, more machinery will be deployed in upper Shimla region to clear snow,” said Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap.

The Dodra-Kwar area of Shimla district is covered under a thick blanket of snow and is without water and power supply. However, the supply is normal in the remaining parts of the district.

Vehicular movement has come to a standstill at Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda, Chopal, Kumarsein, Sarahan, Kharapatthar, Theog and Dodra-Kwar due to intermittent snowfall. The movement of HRTC buses has also been stopped in upper Shimla due to slippery road conditions.

As many as 185 roads, including 130 in the Rampur circle, in Shimla district, 159 in the Kangra region and 156 roads falling under the Dalhousie circle were closed.

The local MeT office has predicted rain and thundershowers in lower hills and rain and snow at many places in mid and higher hills from February 4 to 7.