Rains, snow claim four lives in Himachal

Heavy snowfall and rains today claimed four lives in Himachal Pradesh with the state witnessing the wettest day in March with 1950 per cent excess rains.
Two persons identified as Shyam Dass (36), member of Rei gram panchayat, and his wife Shanti Devi (32) of village Saloni in Chamba district died when they were hit by an avalanche, police officials said.
While, a young woman and her seven-day-old infant were killed when a boulder fell on their house in village Kadri in Nirmand area of Kullu district, police said.
Lower and mid-hills of the state were drenched with rains as Kandaghat and Nahan were wettest with 182 mm and 164 mm rains.

The tribal belt of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi and Bharmaur and higher hills in Chamba and Sirmaur was cut off from rest of the state due to blockade of roads following heavy snowfall.
All schools in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts have been closed till March 9, while schools in Shimla district would remain closed till March 5 due to snowfall and heavy rains.

The Hindustan-Tibet National highway was closed due to heavy snow from Kufri to Narkanda. Kinnaur-bound vehicles terminating at Tapri are being routed via Basantpur and Kingal.
The vehicular traffic to upper Shimla region was disrupted due to heavy snow and buses services to Narkanda, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Chopal and Rohroo, Chopal and Nerwa have been suspended.

Kalpa in Kinnaur tribal district received 110 cm of snow till this evening while Chitkul, Sangla and other mountain peaks received 100 cm to 120 cm of snow.
Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district also received 100 cm of snow while Rohtang Pass, Mari, Koksar and other high altitude areas had over 130 cm of snow.