Shimla, January 24:
Himachal Pradesh has once again witnessed record-breaking weather this season. After a prolonged dry spell of nearly three-and-a-half months, widespread rain and heavy snowfall have transformed the hills completely. While the snow-covered mountains have brought cheer to tourism stakeholders and orchardists, the harsh weather has severely disrupted normal life.
Heavy snowfall in higher regions has led to road closures, disrupted power and water supply, and cut off connectivity in several remote areas.
According to the latest data issued by the State Disaster Management Authority, two National Highways and a total of 563 roads have been completely blocked in the last 24 hours. Lahaul-Spiti has been the worst affected district, where National Highway-3 and National Highway-505 remain closed. Around 290 roads in the district are shut, cutting off access to many remote areas.
Chamba district has also been badly hit, with 105 roads blocked, followed by Mandi (64), Una (70), and Sirmaur (20). In Kullu, nine roads are closed, while Solan has reported one blocked road. Although official figures for Shimla district are yet to be released, heavy snowfall has been recorded in and around the capital as well.
In Shimla, roads across the city, including routes leading towards Upper Shimla, have been completely blocked. Roads towards Chaupal, Rohru and Narkanda are also closed.
The snowfall and strong winds have badly impacted the state’s transport services. Nearly 2,000 routes, including those operated by private buses, have been affected. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) alone has reported 484 routes completely suspended, including 272 routes in the Shimla division.
Power supply has also been severely disrupted, with 4,797 locations across the state affected. Solan has faced the maximum impact, where 1,856 transformers have failed. Other major disruptions were reported from Mandi (901), Kullu (682), Sirmaur (624), and Chamba (659).
Meanwhile, the administration has intensified restoration work. Teams from the Public Works Department, Electricity Board, and other concerned departments are working on a war footing to reopen roads and restore electricity. Priority is being given to routes linked to hospitals, ambulance services, drinking water schemes, and other essential services. Additional machinery has also been deployed in snowfall-affected areas.
Despite the harsh conditions, tourist footfall has increased in popular destinations such as Shimla, Kufri, Manali, and the Atal Tunnel region. Following reports of tourists getting stranded, Himachal Police personnel have been deployed to provide assistance. The police have advised tourists to travel only after checking the latest weather updates and to avoid unnecessary risks.
