Himachal weather update: Several higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh were blanketed in fresh snowfall on Wednesday. The Meteorological Department has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for thunderstorms and lightning in select districts, cautioning residents and travellers about possible weather disturbances.
The scenic locales of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, and Chamba witnessed snowfall, painting the mountains in pristine white. Tourist-favourite destinations like Narkanda and Kufri in Shimla district, Dalhousie in Chamba, and Manali along with its surrounding areas in Kullu experienced significant snowfall. There were also reports of snowfall in parts of Mandi district, including Seraj, Prashar, Shikari and Kamrunag.
Snowfall likely to increase in tourist footfall
The snowfall kindled hope among hoteliers of an increase in tourist footfall. It also brought cheer among horticulturalists worried by a dry spell plaguing the state. Snow is considered good for apple cultivation. However, the precipitation was insufficient to bring the dry spell to a complete stop.
The Met Office said Kothi received 33 cm of snow, followed by Gondla (11 cm), Keylong (9 cm), Kukumseri (8.3 cm), Bharmour (8 cm), Manali (7.4 cm), Jot (6 cm), Kalpa (5.1 cm), and Shillaroo and Khadrala (5 cm each). Shimla town received sleet while the adjoining areas of Jubbarhatti and Kufri received 8.3 cm and 4 cm of snow. Saloni was the wettest place in the state, receiving 44.3 mm rainfall, followed by Kasol (30 mm), Karsog (24.3 mm), Bhuntar (21.4 mm), Jogindernagar (19 mm), Banjar (18.2 mm), Shimla (16.2 mm) and Gohar (16 mm).
Thunderstorms in several regions
Thunderstorms hit Shimla, Jubbarhatti, Kangra, Jot, Bhuntar, Palampur and Sundernagar while shallow fog was observed in Bilaspur and Mandi. The fresh snowfall has made roads slippery at several stretches and police in Lahaul and Spiti have asked commuters to avoid unnecessary travel.
The Met office has issued a ‘yellow’ warning for thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Una, Bilapsur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Kangra and Solan on Wednesday. It also cautioned of dense fog at isolated places in Una, Bilapsur and Mandi on Thursday and Friday. A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from Saturday.
Tabo in tribal Lahaul and Spiti was the coldest place, recording a minimum temperature of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. The state’s rainfall deficit from January 1 to February 5 was at 73 per cent, with Himachal Pradesh receiving 26 mm of rain against a normal of 96.7 mm.
(With PTI inputs)
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