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Over 2,700 tourists stranded due to heavy snowfall near Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim were rescued, officials said on Wednesday morning. Heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Sherathang and adjoining areas led to road blockages, leaving 541 tourist vehicles stranded between 15th Mile and Tsomgo Lake, they said. Through coordinated efforts, all vehicles with 2,736 tourists onboard were evacuated safely and systematically, with the operation concluding on Tuesday night, they added. The Tourism Department advised tourists and tour operators to strictly follow weather advisories and ensure that vehicles are properly equipped, including mandatory snow chains, while travelling during snowfall conditions.
Millions of people in New York City and a large swath of the northeastern US were stuck at home under road travel bans and blizzard warnings Monday as a fierce winter storm barreled into the densely populated region with heavy snowfall and high winds. Cellphones across New York City received wailing push alerts Sunday night announcing a ban on non-emergency travel on all streets through noon Monday because of "dangerous blizzard conditions." Rhode Island and New Jersey implemented similar restrictions. Regional airports saw widespread cancellations and delays, and public transit was suspended in some areas. Even DoorDash announced it was suspending deliveries in New York City overnight. Blizzard warnings stretched from Maryland to Maine. Snow began falling Sunday as the storm moved north, and the National Weather Service said 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) of snow was possible in many areas, along with low visibility. Officials in several states urged people to avoid venturing ..
A powerful storm bore down on the East Coast on Saturday, with forecasters warning of howling winds, flooding and heavy snow, including in some Southeast coastal communities more accustomed to hurricanes than blizzards. Temperatures plummeted even as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power. In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - whose official seal is the sun, palm trees and a seagull - 15 cm of snow was expected. The city has no snow removal equipment, and authorities planned to "use what we can find," Mayor Mark Kruea said. Subfreezing weather was forecast into February, with heavy snow in the Carolinas, Virginia and northeast Georgia over the weekend including up to a foot (30 cm) in parts of North Carolina. Snow was also said to be possible from Maryland to Maine. Saturday night and early Sunday, forecasters said, wind and snow could lead to blizzard conditions before the storm moves out to sea. The frigid cold was expected to plunge as far south as ...
Several flights to and from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday due to snowfall in Kashmir, officials said. "In view of adverse weather conditions and continuing snowfall at Srinagar Airport, airlines have cancelled certain flights for today," an official of the Airport Authority of India said. As many as 16 flights -- eight inbound and eight outbound -- have been cancelled so far. "Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate arrangements," the official said. The cancellation of flights has left hundreds of tourists, who were scheduled to return after spending the weekend and Republic Day holiday in the Valley, stranded in Kashmir.
The air traffic to and fro Kashmir was suspended on Friday after flight operations were cancelled at the Srinagar airport due to bad weather, officials said. "In view of continuous snowfall, accumulation of snow on operational areas, and the prevailing forecast of adverse weather en route, all flight operations at Srinagar airport stand cancelled for the day in the interest of passenger safety," officials at the airport said. They said the passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for updates and re-accommodation. Most parts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall overnight, including the season's first snowfall in Srinagar. The meteorological department has forecast the current weather system to continue till Friday evening.
There was a slight respite from cold conditions across Kashmir as the minimum temperatures increased a bit owing to overcast skies, even as the meteorological department forecast light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of the valley, officials said on Saturday. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night, up from the previous night's minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. The night temperature was 1.7 degrees below the normal for this time of the season, they said. A thick layer of fog engulfed the city and most other parts of the valley, especially the areas around the water bodies, the Met said. Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in north Kashmir's Kupwara settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius, it added. Kokernag, and Gulmarg -- the popular ski resort in north Kashmir -- were the only recorde
Cold wave conditions continued in the high-altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh after fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Kullu and Mandi districts and several parts of Lahaul-Spiti district, the local Met office said on Wednesday. The Manali-Leh road was blocked due to snowfall and vehicles going towards Ladakh were stopped at Darcha, officials said. In Lahaul-Spiti, Gondhla received 30 cm of snow followed by Keylong (15 cm), Hansa (5 cm) and Kukumseri (3.2 cm). Moderate to very heavy rain lashed the low and middle hills of the state, with Naina Devi receiving 132.6 mm of rain since Tuesday evening, followed by Solan (119.6 mm), Berthin (78.6 mm), Pachhad (78.2 mm), Malraon (75.4 mm), Kasauli (68 mm), Bharmani (67.2 mm), Bilaspur (64.8 mm), Kahu (64.1 mm), Dharampur (62.4 mm), and Ghaghas (55 mm), the local weather office said. Thunderstorms were witnessed in Murari Devi, Kangra, Palampur, Sundernagar, Jubbarhatti and Shimla, while gusty winds swept Narkanda, Kufri, Neri and ...