• Source:JND
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Snowfall and rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, causing a drop in temperature, closure of roads, power outage and storm in some areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for most districts and forecasted improvement in weather from Sunday afternoon.

Himachal Pradesh received 66 cm of snowfall in Kalpa and 58 cm in Kukumseri of Lahaul Spiti in the last 24 hours. Mandhol village of Shimla district was covered in a blanket of thick snow.

The snowfall and rain also resulted in the closure of 444 roads, including five national highways, and the outage of 1015 transformers. Many villages were plunged into darkness due to the power failure. A storm with a speed of about 40 kmph and a hailstorm also occurred in Shimla. Efforts are being made to restore the road and power supply in the affected areas.

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Jammu and Kashmir witnessed continuous rain in and snowfall on Saturday, affecting the plains and the higher altitudes respectively. Srinagar received 20.5 mm of rain, while Gulmarg recorded 38.1 cm of snowfall. The snowfall covered Zojila Pass, Baltal, Sonamarg, Gurez, Peer Ki Gali and Sinthan Pass, while the rainfall drenched Qazigund, Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kokernag, Jammu, Banihal, Batote, Katra and Bhaderwah on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a group of 7 trekkers were rescued by the Mechanical Department of Poonch on Saturday, who were lost around Mughal Road amid heavy snowfall and avalanche in the region.