Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh mountains were blanketed in snow before Christmas, and Shimla, the capital, Kufri, and Dalhousie also experienced snowfall. Numerous locations in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, and the Queen of Hills experienced snowfall on Monday. This has led to the closure of over 30 routes, including three national highways. Over a thousand tourist cars are trapped in Manali’s fog.
The road connectivity of Upper Shimla, Manali to Lahaul and Kullu to Ani has been cut off from the capital. Shimla city has witnessed snowfall for the second time in the last nine years during December. However, the drought in the plains of Himachal Pradesh is not over yet. There has been only drizzle in Kangra, Chamba, Kullu, Una, Mandi, Solan and Hamirpur districts.
Shimla, Kufri, Fagu, Narkanda, Dalhousie, and Khajjiar’s Lakkadmandi, Rohtang, Shikari Devi, Jalori Pass, Chitkul, Kalpa, Sangla, Rakcham, Kamrunag, Gramphoo, Koksar, Atal Tunnel Rohtang, Solanganala, Sirmaur’s Churdhar, and Solan’s Chail, Karol, and Kala Tibba all had snowfall on Monday. There was snowfall at Kasauli as well. However, Shimla, Manali, and Dalhousie have been popular tourist destinations since the winter. On Monday, holidaymakers descended on the majority of the state’s tourist destinations in the hopes of a white Christmas. In the midst of the snow, tourists enthusiastically partied on Shimla’s Ridge.
Beginning around 11 a.m. on Monday, snowfall began to impact National Highway 05 in various parts of upper Shimla, including the capital city. Because of the snowfall in Kufri, Chharabra, and Narkanda, Rampur-Shimla NH is closed. Meanwhile, because of the snowfall in Khidki, the roads to Rohru, Kharapathar, Theog, and Chaupal are closed. Snowfall also affects practically every section of the tribal areas of Kinnaur, Pangi, Bharmour, and Lahaul-Spiti. Around with numerous high peaks around the Rohtang Pass, lower areas too saw snowfall on Monday.
Highway-305, popularly known as the Ani-Kullu Highway, has also been blocked to all traffic due to snowfall. At the Solang nala barrier, all vehicles heading to Lahaul from the Atal Tunnel Rohtang are being stopped. At about 2:00 pm, the police sent the tourists who had come to Lahaul back as soon as the snow began to fall. Monday also saw the cancellation of flights from Delhi to Amritsar and Bhuntar.
The Meteorological Center Shimla predicts that Tuesday’s weather in Himachal will continue to be unfavorable. Over the next 24 hours, there is a probability of rain and snow in several places. The 25th and 26th of December may see some sunshine. Most parts of the state will get rain and snowfall on December 27 and 28, as a result of the Western Disturbance being activated.
Due to the ongoing snowfall in many areas of the state, bus service on about 143 routes of HRTC has been affected. If the snowfall continues till late night, then almost all the night routes of Himachal Road Transport Corporation will be affected in the snowy areas. These routes will be operated through alternative routes as per public convenience and need. Due to snowfall in the state on Monday, the movement of buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation in the snowy areas was affected.
Snowfall (in centimeters)
Rohtang 20
Shikari Devi 15
Shimla 10
Kufri 12
Kamrunag 08
Jalori Pass 10
Chitkul 07
Kalpa 05
Sangla 05
Gramphu 05
Koksar 03
Area Minimum Temperature
Tabo – 10.2
Samdo – 5.3
Kukumseri – 3.7
Kalpa – 2.5
Reckong Peo – 0.4
Narkanda – 0.4
Kufri 0.7
Bajaura 0.9
Solan 1.3
Manali 1.8
Una 2.4
Shimla 3.4
Dharamshala 4.5
