Snow beats 40-yr record in Kumaon

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 16

Tourists thronged snow-clad tourist destinations of Nainital, Almora and Munsiyari as sudden and unexpected snowfall in lower valley towns of Kumaon region broke a record standing for the last 40 years. More than a feet of snow was reported in these towns. Besides, mountains surrounding these places were covered with more than five feet snow. “We have heard of white Christmas from our elders. This year, Nainital broke the last 40 years' record in receiving snowfall before Christmas in the town,” said Kamal Jagati, a hotelier and journalist based in Nainital town.

Almora town and surrounding hill towns of Jageshwar, Sharhar Phatak, Dhanachuli and Ranikhet today witnessed tourists thronging these places from far off in the plains to witness snow.

“It broke a 40-year-old record in Almora and Jageshwar towns as the snowfall was more than that which used to occur before the eighties,” said Navin Bisht, a journalist based in Almora.

The hill towns of Kausani, Jageshwar, Ramgarh Dhanachuli and Berinag were covered under more than two feet snow last night. Tourists faced problems as the motor roads leading to these main towns were closed due to heavy snowfall. “Life in the town of Pithoragarh and adjoining satellite towns was paralysed as roads from the district headquarters to Kanalichina, Didiihat and Berinag sub-divisions and to Almora and Haldwani were closed due to heavy snowfall last night," said a spokesman of Pithoragarh district administration.

Champawat received 8 inches of snowfall and witnessed closure of Tanakpur-Champawat highway due to heavy landslide at various places on this 75-km-long highway. “The snowfall affected power supply via electricity poles at many places,” said Dinesh Pandey, a journalist in Champawat.