Snowfall ends prolonged dry spell in Shimla

Heavy snowfall that blanketed several parts of Himachal Pradesh ended a prolonged dry spell in Shimla, Manali and other high reaches in the apple-growing state.

Shimla wore a white mantle on Wednesday morning, with snow accumulated on roads, house roofs and trees, but as the day progressed sunshine helped melting the snow.

According to the Meteorological office, Shimla received 15 cm of snow from last night till Wednesday morning. There were reports of snowfall from famous tourist destinations of Manali and other high reaches of Lahual and Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu. Keylong recorded 28 cm snow, while, it was 11 cm in Bhand Manali.

Famous tourist spot of Kufri on the outskirts of the capital town had about one feet snow. Tourists who badly missed snowfall during Christmas and New Year, rushed to the places in numbers. Shimla recorded minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees celsius as compared with 7.1 degrees on Tuesday, the sources said.

Minimum temperature in Manali was 0.4 degrees while it was 2 degrees celsius in Bhuntar and 5.1 degrees in Dharamsala.

Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahual and Spiti also known as 'cold desert', recorded minus 4.9 degrees Celsius while it was minus 4.2 degrees in Kalpa, the Met office sources said.

Train services on heritage Kalka-Shimla railway was delayed due to accumulation of about 2 inches snow on the rail tracks. Running of Himachal Pradesh State Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses were also effected as buses going towards Kufri and Theog did not leave the terminals, HRTC sources said.

Kufri-Theog road was closed and buses going towards Rampur and Recong Peo, district headquarters of Kinnaur, were diverted via Mashobra, they added. Reports from Keylong, said that communication network in the district continued to be disturbed due to breaking of optical fibre cable between Manali to Keylong at Rani Nallah near Rohtang Pass.

There has been no Internet link in the district, the report added. BSNL sources said the damage could be attended only after roads were cleared of snow in March end or early April. Director of state Meteorological department Manmohan Singh told PTI that rain/snow will take place at few places on higher reaches in next 24 hours.

However, snowfall is expected to revisit Shimla and other areas on February 13 with the arrival of fresh western disturbances, he added.