The Met Department has warned of further rainfall and snowfall in the coming days.
Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh closes 226 road, including 3 highways. Himachal Pradesh, India has been hit by a cold wave, leading to the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways, after snowfall in several districts, officials reported on Wednesday. The snowstorm has disrupted normal life, with locals and tourists facing significant challenges as the winter chill intensifies.
The snowfall, which began in the past 24 hours, resulted in up to 10 cm of snow in Jute, followed by Khadrala (5 cm), Pooh (2 cm), Sangla (1.2 cm), and Keylong (1 cm). The region’s temperatures plummeted, with Tabu in Lahaul and Spiti district recording the coldest temperature at minus 10.6 degrees Celsius.
Among the closed roads, major routes such as Attari and Leh, along with crucial highways from Sanj to Ot in Kollo district, Khab Sangam in Kannur, and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Sapti, have been shut down for safety reasons. The ongoing adverse weather conditions have also affected power supply across the state, as 173 transformers have been disrupted.
The weather conditions, however, dashed the hopes of locals and tourists in Shimla, known as the Queen of Hills, who were anticipating a white Christmas. Instead, Shimla greeted the day with bright sunshine.
The Met Department has warned of further rainfall and snowfall in the coming days, especially in Shimla, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with heavy rain expected on Saturday. The cold wave continues to affect several districts, including Mandi, Manali, Chamba, and Una. Dense and moderate fog was also reported in Sundernagar and Mandi.
An ‘Orange’ warning has been issued for severe cold in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi on Wednesday, while a ‘Yellow’ warning for dense fog has been issued for parts of Mandi on Thursday.
As Himachal Pradesh braces for continued adverse weather, authorities have urged residents and travelers to exercise caution and stay updated with the latest weather advisories.
