Shimla receives first snow of the year, brings cheer to tourists

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 8

Shimla received the first snow of the year on Saturday and upper areas of the town were covered under a thin layer of snow.

The tourists and locals woke up to a white morning. However, the snow was washed away by drizzle in the lower areas of the town.

Shimla recorded 14.6 cm of snow, followed by Kalpa 10 cm and Kufri 7 cm.

“We are delighted to see snow this morning and have planned a trip to Kufri to enjoy snow,” said Harpal, a tourist from Gurugram.

As many as 295 roads are blocked in the state which includes 177 in Lahaul and Spiti, 95 in Chamba, 14 in Kullu, four in Kinnaur, three each in Mandi and Shimla. Besides, 168 transformers were disrupted.

The Shimla-Rampur road is closed near Narkanda and the Theog-Chopal road is closed near Khidki as heavy snow is continuing at these places, said Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi, adding that all roads leading to hospitals in Shimla town are open for vehicular movement.

The Kufri-Fagu stretch is also open and a large number of tourists have made a beeline to the tourist resort of Kufri. The administration has advised the commuters to be cautious while driving.

Apple-growers are also delighted as snow is considered white manure for apple. The hoteliers are happy as snow would increase the tourist inflow to the state capital in the coming week.

The local MeT office had issued yellow warning of heavy rain and snow at isolated place for January 8 and 9.

Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest at night recording a low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius followed by Kalpa and Kufri both at minus 2 degrees Celsius.