Lahaul, Pangi lashed by blizzard

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 25

Lahaul and Pangi tribal valleys were lashed by a blizzard, while tribal Kinnaur district and Rohtang, Kunzam and Saach passes received heavy snow disrupting power supply. Lower and mid hills had widespread rain.

Keylong and Kalpa in tribal areas received 60 cm and 45 cm of snow, while Rohtang Pass and upper Manali region received 60 cm to 100 cm of fresh snowfall.

Manali had 15 cm of snow, while Chitkul and Sangla valleys recorded 50 cm and 15 cm of snow. Several parts of Lahaul valley, some areas in Kullu district and interior Kinnaur district were without power, while 65 roads in Rampur, Kullu, Dalhousie and Chamba were blocked due to snow. Fifteen roads were opened by this evening, while 40 more would be opened tomorrow, Superintending Engineer (works) Ajay Garg said. Most of the link roads in the interior Kinnaur district were closed due to fresh snow, DC Kinnaur DD Sharma said.

Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Hans Raj Chauhan has ordered closure of all schools in Lahaul for two days on February 25 and 26 and people have been advised not to venture out as avalanche threat loomed large over tribal areas above 2,500 mts altitude.

Palampur in Kangra district was lashed by a hailstorm this evening causing damage to stone fruit and rabi crop. Hailstorm accompanied by intermittent rain and strong winds caused a sharp fall in the mercury and people were forced to rush indoors. Dalhousie was the wettest in the region with 62 mm rain, while Bhandal received 60 mm rain, followed by Chamba 45 mm, Saloni 44 mm, Kheri 35 mm, Bhuntar 30 mm, Kasol 31 mm, Seobagh 30 mm, Manali and Karsog 25 mm, Banjar and Bijahi 24 mm, Dehra Gopipur 23 mm, Jubbarhatti and Mashobra 23 mm, Shimla 21 mm, Dharamsala 19 mm and Seobag and Bhandal 16 mm.

The maximum day temperature dropped by 3 to 5°C and Una was the hottest in the region with a high of 24.4°C, followed by Nahan 19.7°C, Solan 17.5°C, Dharamsala 17.4°C, Sundernagar 16.4°C, Shimla 11.1°C, Bhuntar 8°C and Kalpa 0.6°C. The minimum temperature remained steady and Kalpa was the coldest in the region with a low of -4°C, followed by Keylong -1.7°C, Manali -1.2°C, Shimla 6.8°C, Bhuntar 7°C, Dharamsala 8.6°C, Palampur 11°C, Sundernagar 11.7°C Una 12.5°C and Nahan 12.7°C. Local Met office has predicted rain or snow at several places in the region till March 3.

Water scarcity in Kullu

KULLU:Kullu town was lashed by intermittent rain throughout the day, while higher reaches of the district experienced snowfall.

The valley was under the grip of cold wave. A hotel in Manali got damaged due to an uprooted tree, while a deserted house at Jari village of Manikaran valley crumbled due to landslide.

Several link roads in the region were blocked due to landslides. BSNL broadband connectivity services were hit in Akhara region.

Akhara residents said the pressure of regular water supply had reduced in the recent past, due to which some of the houses located on the elevated regions had to face water scarcity. Reportedly the water pressure had been reduced in the past couple of years, due to the wearing out of the supply line, which is controlled by the junior staff of the IPH Department.