Mussoorie's First Snowfall of the Season Brings Cheer and Challenges
Mussoorie, often celebrated as the Queen of Hills, experienced its first snowfall of the season on Friday morning, much to the delight of both residents and tourists who had been eagerly awaiting this winter spectacle. Following a day of bright sunshine on Thursday, locals awoke around 9 am to find the hill town blanketed in snow, marking a rare and highly anticipated moment for this popular tourist destination.
Snowfall Details and Ecological Significance
The snowfall continued throughout the day, with approximately 2-3 inches accumulating on the iconic Mall Road. Higher elevation areas such as Lal Tibba and Char Dukan recorded more substantial snowfall, measuring around 5-6 inches. Local residents noted that snowfall in Mussoorie has become increasingly scarce in recent years, with the town receiving no snowfall during the previous winter. They recalled that the last significant snowfall occurred in 2019, making this event particularly special.
Sanjay Aggarwal, president of the Mussoorie Hotel Association, emphasized the importance of this snowfall for the local ecology. "The snowfall was much needed for the local ecology. It came at the most opportune time during the long weekend, and we are hopeful of good tourist footfall," he stated, highlighting the positive impact on tourism.
Tourist Experiences and Traffic Disruptions
Tourists from nearby districts and neighboring states flocked to Mussoorie to witness the snowfall, while those already staying in the town were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected weather change. Anil Saini, a tourist from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, shared his excitement: "We arrived yesterday (Thursday) when the weather was sunny. Waking up to snowfall today was completely unexpected. It is an experience of a lifetime." Similarly, Manmohan, a visitor from Dehradun, mentioned that his children enjoyed their first-ever snowfall, creating cherished memories.
However, the sudden influx of tourists led to significant traffic congestion at several points. One-way traffic movement at the Bailey Bridge near Shiv Mandir resulted in long queues of vehicles, extending up to Kuthalgate and causing inconvenience to both locals and visitors. The situation worsened when a tree fell across the road at Paniwala Bend, blocking traffic for over an hour and further exacerbating the traffic woes.
Avalanche Warnings and Regional Impact
In addition to Mussoorie, Chakrata, another popular tourist destination in Dehradun district, also received a fresh bout of snowfall on Friday, enhancing winter conditions across the region. Meanwhile, the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) in Chandigarh issued a warning about potential avalanches in Uttarakhand's high-altitude regions over the next 24 hours.
According to the DGRE forecast issued on Friday evening, snowfall and avalanche activity are likely in the higher Himalayan areas of the state between January 23 and the evening of January 24. The districts of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Pithoragarh were placed under Danger Level–3, while Bageshwar district was categorized under Danger Level–2, indicating a moderate to high risk of avalanches in the event of heavy snowfall.
Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, appealed to local residents, tourists, pilgrims, and those traveling along mountain routes to avoid unnecessary movement in high-altitude and snowbound areas. He urged everyone to strictly follow advisories issued by the administration to ensure safety during this period of heightened risk.
