Manali gets fresh snow; tourists, locals elated

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 5

Manali received fresh snowfall on Saturday, cheering tourists and locals. As the news of snowfall broke, tourists made a beeline for Kullu-Manali.

Many were seen taking selfies and grooving on the Mall Road. Delhi residents Mehak and her husband Tilak Kumar said: “The sight is so beautiful. We have always wanted to enjoy the snowfall here. We came here on Friday as we did not want to miss out on the fun.” Despite bone-chilling cold, the visitors were seen taking a stroll on the Mall Road. Most chose to camp at Manu Rangshala auditoriums to have a glimpse of the state’s culture.

As the footfall rose, traffic jams were witnessed at various places in Manali town and Solang. The snowfall has brought cheers to famers of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu and Mandi, who had been waiting for the white manure for their crop for long.

Rajiv Kimta, an orchardist in Kullu district, said the weather was favourable for apple.However, life was crippled in the high- altitude areas like Lahaul-Spiti. The mercury plummeted drastically, making it difficult for the people to go about their daily chores. In Lahaul-Spiti district, around 30-cm snowfall was recorded at Keylong and 60 cm in the Rohtang Pass. Tourist places like Kothi, Gulaba and Solang received more than 1 feet snow.

In Lahaul-Spiti, vehicular movement remained hit, while in Kullu district, the Jalori Pass had to be closed. The Lahaul administration has asked the residents to stay indoors in the next few days as the area was prone to avalanches. Kullu DC Yunus Khan said the people had been told not to venture into high-altitude areas like the Jalori Pass, Bijli Mahadev or Palchan. He added that the vehicular movement from Palchan towards Solang had been stopped.

Artistes brave chill, delight audience at winter carnival

• Mandi: Braving the chill, Manali winter carnival participants enthralled the audience. They presented folk dances, a fashion show and various items. The artistes were appreciated by one and all. However, the winter carnival committee had to cancel ‘Kullvi Nati’ to be performed by village women because of snowfall.
• Punjabi singer Kulwinder Billa entertained the audience on Friday night. The main attraction was the beauty contest.

Western Disturbances behind erratic weather

• Shimla: There was snowfall not only on the Dhauladhars, but also at Dharamkot and upper McLeodganj. 
• With the Met Department predicting snow from January 4 to 8, thousands of tourists are flocking to the hill towns. The state would receive rain and snow till January 8 after which the weather would remain dry for two days. 
• There could be another spell of rain and snow from January 11, the Met predicted. The Met Department said an induced cyclonic circulation over West Rajasthan and neighbourhood was likely to bring   fresh Western Disturbances, which would  affect the western Himalayan region on January 8 and 9. TNS