For the second day in a row on Thursday, the picturesque high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh were blanketed in a fresh layer of light snow, bringing joy to tourists but also triggering the season's first avalanche in Lahaul and Spiti district. While the higher reaches shimmered white, the lower hills witnessed much-needed rainfall after a prolonged dry period of three months.
Snowfall Spreads Cheer and Disruption
The light snowfall painted popular tourist spots in a wintry hue. Sissu, Koksar, and Gondla in Lahaul & Spiti district received snow, as did both portals of the iconic Atal Tunnel, Rohtang Pass, and the Solang Valley near Manali. The unexpected winter spectacle was met with excitement by visitors, particularly those gathered at the tunnel and in Solang.
However, the weather also led to disruptions for the administration. As a precautionary measure, Rohtang Pass was closed to all traffic. By late afternoon, police began vacating the area around the Atal Tunnel, advising tourists to head back to Manali due to increasingly slippery and dangerous road conditions.
Avalanche Strikes, Cold Wave Grips State
In a separate but related incident, the season's first avalanche occurred in the upper reaches of the Lahaul Valley near Sissu. Fortunately, no loss of life or property was reported from the event. The fresh snow and rain, combined with dense fog in parts, intensified the cold wave across Himachal Pradesh.
Kukumseri in Lahaul & Spiti was the coldest recorded spot, with the mercury plunging to a frigid -4.8°C. Major tourist destinations also shivered: Kufri recorded 1.5°C, Shimla 4°C, Dharamshala 5°C, and Manali 5.1°C. Narkanda was at 0.5°C, while Kalpa in Kinnaur dipped below freezing to -0.4°C.
Rain Relief for Farmers After Dry December
The weather activity brought a silver lining for the agricultural community in the low hills. Parts of Una and Kangra districts received light rain, offering relief to farmers after an unusually dry spell. This rain is significant in the context of the state's recent weather history.
According to the meteorological department's monthly report, Himachal Pradesh experienced its sixth-lowest December rainfall since 1901 last month. The state received a mere 0.1 mm of rain in December, which is a staggering 99% below the normal average of 38.1 mm. The highest December rainfall on record was 176 mm back in 1929.
