Cold wave sweeps Himachal Pradesh after snowfall in Kufri, Narkanda

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 4

The tourist destinations of Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda, Sangla and Kalpa experienced light snowfall as intense cold wave swept most parts of Himachal. Higher reaches and tribal areas had another moderate to heavy spell of snowfall and lower areas were lashed by scattered rains, causing fall in day temperatures.

Traffic diverted

• The tourists made a beeline to Kufri to enjoy snow as the occupancy in hotels is expected to rise
• Vehicular traffic was obstructed on the Shimla- Rohru road near Khara Pathar, Chopal - Dehra road near Khidki and Kufri- Chail road near Chinibangla
• MeT office has issued yellow warning of heavy rain and snowfall in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur on Jan 5

As many as 188 roads — 137 in Lahaul and Spiti, 18 in Mandi, 16 in Kinnaur, six in Shimla and five in Kullu — were blocked and seven water supply schemes were disrupted in the state. Vehicular traffic was obstructed on the Shimla-Rohru road near Khara Pathar, Chopal-Dehra Road near Khidki and Kufri-Chail road near Chinibangla due to snow, but the roads are opened.

Only restricted movement like those of emergency vehicles is being allowed on these stretches due to slippery conditions. The commuters have been advised not to travel in slippery areas at night, said Shimla DC Aditya Negi. He said that traffic from Narkanda on the Shimla-Rampur road has been diverted via Basantpur.

The tourists made a beeline to Kufri to enjoy snow as the occupancy in hotels is expected to rise. The MeT office has issued yellow warning of heavy rain and snowfall in seven districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur tomorrow (January 5) and five districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur on January 8.

The MeT office advised farmers to protect plant and vegetable nurseries from cold and monitor mustard crop against attack of white rust. Infestation of late blight may occur in potato if there is high relative humidity, as per the advisory.

Kalpa received 12 cm of snow, Hansa 8 cm, Gondla 6 cm, Keylong 5 cm and Manali and Kothi 2 cm. Bhuntar was wettest with 26 mm rain, followed by Dalhousie 20 mm, Jarri 19.5 mm, Jogindernagar 16.5 mm, Palampur 15 mm, Baijnath 14.5 mm, Mandi and Chamba 14 mm, Dharamsala and Kangra 12 mm, Sundernagar 11 mm and Shimla 10 mm. The maximum temperatures were 5-6°C below normal during the last 24 hours and Keylong and Kalpa reeled under biting cold wave conditions with maximum day temperature at minus 1.5°C and 2.9°C.

The minimum temperatures stayed close to normal. Keylong was coldest at night with minimum temperature at minus 5.8°C.