Power, communication services snapped in Lahaul-Spiti

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 13

Heavy snowfall was reported in tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti and higher reaches of Mandi and Kullu today, while lower areas were lashed by incessant rain.

Blizzard in Lahaul valley affected normal life. Snow storm was reported in Sissu village in Lahaul valley, which forced the area residents to rush indoors to escape from bone-chilling cold.

Electricity supply has been affected in Lahaul villages because of heavy snowfall. Due to disruption of power supply, telecommunication services have been affected in the district. However, power supply was restored in the district headquarters of Keylong in the evening, while a major portion of district still reeled under darkness.

Deputy Commissioner Lahaul Spiti K K Saroch said that due to heavy snowfall traffic had come to a standstill in the district. If weather turned favourable on Saturday, the Border Roads Organization authority will start snow clearing operation to restore main roads for traffic movement within the district.

The Deputy Commissioner has urged the people of the district to be cautious while moving because the district is prone to avalanches. He said no loss of life or property was reported because of the inclement weather in the district.

In Kullu district power supply was affected in villages because of snowfall in higher reaches. The upper villages of Manali have been plunged into darkness since Thursday. The tourist places like Solang valley and Kothi, Guaba received more than 75 cm of snow till evening. The road leading to Solang valley or Kothi side has been blocked for traffic movement since Thursday because of heavy snowfall.

In Mandi district, tourist places like Prashar Lake, Kamrunag, Shikari Devi, Seraj and Karsog valley received snowfall, which affected the several bus routes in the region. Similarly, power supply was disrupted in snowbound areas of Seraj and Karsog valley. As many as 13 roads are blocked in the district, while 38 electric transformers were damaged because of heavy snowfall.

The farmers of state have welcomed the snowfall and rain, which ended the prolonged dry spell of weather. Apple orchardists of the state are also happy after heavy snowfall in early December, which will help the crop complete required chilling hours for better output.