By India Blooms News Service Jan 30, 2023
Shimla: Overnight snowfall on the high reaches of the state and windstorm and light rain disrupted vehicular traffic and snapped power supply in many places, derailing normal life during the past 24 hours in the state.
Reports arriving here said that high reaches of the state have experienced light to moderate spell of snowfall as higher peaks of Chamba, Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur received fresh snowfall last night.
Many roads have closed due to slippery conditions and mounting of snowfall in Lahaul Spiti, Chambas Pangi and Bharmour and Upper Shimla with the district headquarters has been cut off. In the past 24 hrs 280 roads including 4 National Highways are reported closed.
The movement of people is being affected due to the blocking of roads. NH-5 connecting the capital to Kinnaur is closed for traffic at Kufri and Narkanda. Similarly, the highway connecting Rohru to Khadapathar and the highway connecting Chopal to Shimla is closed near the window.
There is more possibility of snow as dark clouds are hovering the sky. The Meteorological Center has appealed to the district administrations of Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, Kangra and Sirmaur not to allow tourists and people to go to higher areas.
Traffic may be affected due to snowfall. In low line areas of Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Una, Sirmaur and Hamirpur wind storm with speed of 40 to 50 km per hour disrupted the normal life disrupted power supply in most places. Power supply remained disrupted in 300 electric transformers (DTR) which likely to take time to restored in the inclement weather.
The coldwave increased in the state as Mercury plummets in snowline areas however it is unchanged in rest of the state.
Lesser incidents of snowfall rain.
The state didnt witnessed good winter rain and snowfall due to erratic weather conditions apple growers are still waiting more snow which is considered white manure for good crop.
The productivity and soil moisture dependent on good spell of snowfall which was still missing in mid and low snowbelt to greatest extent.
Delayed rain, lack of snow, sudden rise in Mercury and minimum temperature staying above normal are warning signals for good crop apple Growers and off seasonal vegetable farmers.
(With UNI inputs)