Preneeta Sharma
Although the Shimla and its nearby places like Kufri and Narkanda have experienced its moderate snowfall in December 12,despite this, the town yet again, will not be wrapped with the thick blanket of snow on the eve of Christmas.
Manmohan Singh, Director Meteorology said “the sky was likely to remain clear over the next six days .Going by the prevailing conditions, it may or may not snow for New Years Eve”.
“From 1971 to 1991, Shimla had witnessed nine times snowfall while in 1989 snowfall was observed for five continuous days during Xmas. However in 1995 Christmas day had 10cm snow and in 1991 there was snowfall for two days starting December 25. Due to the human inference with nature as well as global warming Shimla was not witnessing snowfall in the festive season.
And except in 2010, there has been no white New Year’s Eve either in the past nine years”, Singh said.
It is noted that after gap of five years, the town on December 12 experienced snowfall with 5cm while in 2007 on same date the town was recorded with 19 cm of snow. In 2010, there was no snowfall in the town in month of December and in same year (2010) too there was just mild snowfall on New Year’s Eve,” Singh added.
“Last weekend was good in terms of business. It was mainly due to the season’s first snow. More snow means more business,” said Hotlier. He added if there will be no snowfall on the Christmas it will affect our business. Even the pandemic yet also affecting our business.
Moreover, local tour operators have started advising tourists to plan trips to Shimla neighbouring hills like Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda to enjoy the snowy landscape. In order to lure more tourists to state, the tourism industry has also announced the special packages for honeymoon couples, which will also influence the business of them.
In this pandemic,What a pleasant sun in Shimla, a perfect break from the fog in Delhi,” remarked by tourist Ajay Shukla
“We came here hoping to witness snowfall but the days are too warm here and we are enjoying basking in the sun,” his wife Shipra added.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district froze at minus 7.4°C while Kalpa and Manali shivered at 0.8°C and 1°C. The local MeT office has predicted rain or snowfall at isolated places in higher hills from December 28.
Several places in lower hills reeled under piercing cold wave conditions as the mercury dropped by a few notches. Bhuntar recorded a low of 2.3°C, followed by Sundernagar 2.5°C, Solan and Mandi 2°C, and Palampur 3.5°C. However, Shimla and Dharamsala were warmer with a low of 8°C and 3.2°C, followed by Dalhousie 7.7°C and Kufri 7.2°C.
