Himachal Weather: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a western disturbance to become active from January 30 in Himachal Pradesh. Rain and snowfall are expected until February 3. Educational institutions in the Manali subdivision and Lahaul Spiti district will remain closed on January 29.
Rain and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours have caused temperatures to drop. Day and night temperatures are below normal in many places. The maximum temperature has dropped by eight degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Kukumseri was minus 6.1 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature in Bajaura was 19.2 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperatures in Manali, Keylong, Tabo, Narkanda, Kufri, Kalpa, and Reckong Peo remained below zero. Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of zero degrees Celsius. Snowfall occurred at both ends of the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, two to three feet in the Lahaul Valley, one foot in Manali, and two and a half feet in Solang Nala.
Shimla received three inches of snow on Tuesday night. The administration sent some vehicles to upper Shimla that evening. Heavy snowfall in the Saraj Valley has disrupted roads and power supply. Snowfall has also fallen on the Dhauladhar hills. Fearing avalanches, the Lahaul-Spiti administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay in safe areas.
Khadrala in Shimla district received the most snowfall at 41 cm, followed by Gondla in Lahaul-Spiti at 36 cm, Sandhol at 31 cm, Kukumseri and Manali at 28 cm each, Kalpa and Shilaru at 17 cm each, and Keylong at 15 cm. Thunderstorms occurred in the lower areas on Tuesday night.
885 Roads, Including 4 NHs Blocked
Bhuntar received 55 mm of rain, Seubagh 47 mm, Bilaspur, Gohar, Shri Nayanadevi Ji, and Kasauli 45 mm each, Sundernagar, Salapad, Chuwari, and Pandoh 42 mm each, Jogindernagar 40 mm, and Solan 39 mm.
885 roads and four National Highways (NHs) are blocked. Power supply has been disrupted due to the failure of 3,237 transformers. 121 drinking water schemes are also stalled. The state has suffered a loss of Rs 45.71 crore and the Public Works Department has suffered a loss of Rs 40.18 crore.
Heavy snowfall in Manali on Tuesday evening left tourist vehicles stranded in Rangri. Police rescued the stranded tourist vehicles and escorted them to their hotels at midnight. Around 400 tourist vehicles heading towards Solangnala were stuck near the Nag Temple. The police team worked for hours to restore traffic. However, since all the vehicles were four-by-four vehicles, there was not much trouble. The rescue operation continued in Rangri until midnight.