The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has reported that a total of 482 roads, including three critical national highways, remain blocked across Himachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall and rainfall. This severe weather disruption has significantly impacted essential services, including power and water supply, across various districts of the state.
Restoration Efforts Underway
According to the SEOC report, the situation showed some improvement during the day, with the number of blocked roads decreasing from 553 in the morning to 482 by evening, thanks to ongoing restoration efforts. However, the persistent adverse weather conditions continue to pose significant challenges to infrastructure and daily life.
Essential Services Severely Affected
The blocked roads have led to widespread disruptions in essential services. A total of 436 Distribution Transformer Rooms (DTRs) were disrupted, severely affecting electricity supply in multiple areas. Additionally, 62 water supply schemes were reported as non-functional, exacerbating the hardships faced by residents.
District-Wise Impact Analysis
The SEOC report provides a detailed breakdown of the impact across various districts, highlighting the severity of the situation in specific regions.
Chamba: The Worst Affected District
Chamba district has emerged as the worst affected area, with 35 roads blocked, primarily in the Pangi, Bharmour, Salooni, Tissa, and Dalhousie sub-divisions. The power supply was disrupted at 50 locations, and 10 water supply schemes were affected, creating critical shortages.
Kullu: Highest Number of Road Blockages
Kullu district reported the highest number of road blockages at 57, including the closure of NH-305 at Jalori Pass due to heavy snowfall. The electricity supply was severely compromised, with 187 DTRs disrupted in Kullu alone, indicating a major infrastructure challenge.
Lahaul-Spiti: Severe Winter Conditions Persist
Lahaul-Spiti continues to reel under severe winter conditions, with NH-03 and NH-505 closed at multiple stretches, including Rohtang Pass, Darcha-Sarchu, and Gramphu-Batal. A total of 273 DTRs were disrupted in Lahaul and Spiti sub-divisions, and the Udaipur sub-division reported 11 disrupted water supply schemes.
Mandi and Shimla Districts Also Hit Hard
In Mandi district, 67 roads were blocked across Seraj, Thalout, and Padhar divisions, while 57 DTRs and two water supply schemes were disrupted. Shimla district reported 40 road blockages, 116 disrupted DTRs, and 50 water supply schemes affected, particularly in Chopal, Rampur, and Kupvi sub-divisions.
Weather Forecast and Future Outlook
Weather forecasts indicate that light rain or snowfall is expected at isolated places over high hills across the state on February 1 and 3. Dry weather is likely on February 4. Minimum temperatures are expected to fall by 2 to 5°C over the next few days, intensifying cold conditions across Himachal Pradesh.
Humanitarian Crisis in Pangi Valley
In Chamba’s Pangi Valley of the Bharmour Assembly constituency, heavy snowfall has brought normal life to a complete halt. With three to four feet of snow accumulated across the region, healthcare services remain the worst affected essential service. A distressing incident from Shun village, Pangi, highlights the severity of the situation.
A 14-year-old boy named Sahil, suffering from chickenpox, was carried by locals on their back to Killar hospital on Thursday. The journey involved traversing snow-covered and treacherous mountain paths. Sahil is now admitted to the hospital, and his condition is reported as stable. The total distance between Shun and Killar hospital is approximately 40 kilometres, with nearly 33 kilometres covered on foot by people carrying the boy through the snow, and the remaining seven kilometres completed using a vehicle.
This incident underscores the critical challenges faced by residents in remote areas due to the blocked roads and severe weather conditions, emphasizing the urgent need for continued restoration efforts and support from authorities.
