Himachal Pradesh Grapples with Severe Snowfall Disruption
Heavy snowfall across multiple districts of Himachal Pradesh continued to wreak havoc on Sunday, severely disrupting daily life in the hill state. The relentless winter weather has impacted transport, communication networks, power supply, and water distribution, leaving numerous people stranded in vehicles amid freezing conditions.
Transportation Network Paralyzed
As of Saturday evening, a staggering 685 roads were closed across the state, including critical stretches of National Highway 3 and National Highway 505 that traverse through Lahaul and Spiti district. This has effectively cut off Lahaul and Spiti from the rest of Himachal Pradesh.
Lahaul-Spiti reported the highest number of road closures at 290, followed by Chamba with 132 and Mandi with 126, according to data from the state emergency response centre. Traffic movement was also severely affected in Kullu district beyond Patlikuhal towards Manali and beyond Tara Devi in Shimla due to continuous snowfall since Friday.
Tourist Rescue Operations Underway
Hundreds of tourists found themselves stranded in Manali since Friday night, prompting district administration teams to launch rescue missions. Many have been successfully evacuated and shifted to safer locations as authorities work tirelessly to manage the crisis.
Several famous tourist hotspots recorded significant snowfall accumulations: Kufri (66cm), Manali (45.8 cm), and Shimla (40cm). Kothi in Kullu's tribal belt received the highest snowfall in the entire state at 105cm. Other prominent locations that received substantial snowfall included Gondla (85 cm), Keylong (75 cm), Khadrala (68.6 cm), Shillaroo (45 cm), Kukumseri (41.4 cm), Sangla (27.5 cm), Bharmaur (26 cm), Saloni (25.4 cm), Jubbal (20 cm), Kalpa (16.4 cm), Moorang (14 cm), Sarahan (11.5 cm), Sangrah and Rohru (8 cm), and Palampur (2 cm).
Essential Services Severely Impacted
The snowfall has taken a heavy toll on essential services across Himachal Pradesh. When reports were filed, 5,775 power distribution transformers and 126 water supply schemes remained out of operation, creating significant challenges for residents.
Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh confirmed that machinery and personnel have been deployed on a war footing to clear roads and restore essential services as quickly as possible.
Temperature Extremes Recorded
Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti recorded the lowest minimum temperature at -7.2°C on Saturday, while Bajaura in Kullu district recorded the highest maximum temperature at 18.2°C. Other notable temperature readings included Shimla (-0.5°C), Manali (-0.4°C), Kufri (-2.5°C), Narkanda (-4.2°C), Dharamshala (-5.2°C), Sundernagar (3.7°C), Nahan (6.2°C), and Paonta Sahib (8°C).
Rainfall in Mid and Lower Hill Districts
Mid and lower hill districts experienced heavy rainfall alongside the snowfall in higher elevations. Dharampur in Solan district recorded the highest rainfall at 91.4 mm. Other areas that received significant rainfall included Solan (68.6mm), Slapper (54.8mm), Una (54.2mm), Palampur and Nagrota Suriyan (53.2mm), Ghaghas (52.6mm), Gohar (52mm), Nahan (51.9mm), Mehre Barsar (48mm), Kangra (45.3mm), Pachchad (44.4mm), Kotkhai (44.1mm), Sundernagar (43mm), Naina Devi (42.4mm), and Sandhole (40.6mm).
Weather Forecast and Preparedness Measures
The meteorological department has predicted light rain or snow on January 25 at isolated places over the high hills of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur, and upper parts of Kullu and Mandi districts. Dense fog and a cold wave are likely at isolated places in Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur districts on the same day.
As a fresh western disturbance is expected to affect northwest India from January 26, light to moderate rain or snow is likely at a few places over the state on January 26 and 28. However, on January 27, most places across Himachal Pradesh are expected to experience precipitation, with one or two spells of heavy rain or snow likely at isolated locations. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds have been predicted at isolated places in the state on January 27. Dry weather is anticipated over the state on January 29 and 30.
In response to the weather alerts, the revenue department has issued advisories and directed district disaster management authorities to activate round-the-clock monitoring systems, review evacuation plans, and issue timely public warnings to ensure preparedness.
Light snowfall continued at isolated places in the higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts on Sunday, while most parts of the state experienced cloudy skies. The situation remains fluid as authorities continue their efforts to restore normalcy across affected regions.
