December -January Shimla, Solang, Kufri don white mantle

December -January  Shimla, Solang, Kufri don white mantle

While the state capital saw 5 cm snow, it was 10 cm in Dalhousie and 13cm in Kufri. The minimum temperature in Manali was 0.6 degrees Celsius below freezing point. While the state capital saw 5 cm snow, it was 10 cm in Dalhousie and 13cm in Kufri. The minimum temperature in Manali was 0.6 degrees Celsius below freezing point. While the state capital saw 5 cm snow, it was 10 cm in Dalhousie and 13cm in Kufri. The minimum temperature in Manali was 0.6 degrees Celsius below freezing point. While the state capital saw 5 cm snow, it was 10 cm in Dalhousie and 13cm in Kufri. The minimum temperature in Manali was 0.6 degrees Celsius below freezing point.

Highest single day snowfall in Feb in 19 yrs in capital I Town cut off, without power I Traffic hit.

Thinking Boxx News Service

Shimla, February 4

The Queen of the Hills, as Shimla is popularly known, today recorded the highest snowfall on a single day in February in the past 19 years. This was also the season’s heaviest spell.

The town and upper areas were cut off from rest of the state as most of the roads were blocked. Normal life was paralysed in Shimla and surrounding areas and half of the town remained without electricity for hours and a large number of vehicles were stranded.

Shimla recorded 51 cm of snow. The town had recorded 54.1 cm of snow in 24 hours on February 12, 2002, said Director, Met Department, Manmohan Singh. The department has predicted rain and snow tomorrow too.

Solang received 30 cm of snow, Kalpa 14 cm, Gondla 11 cm, Kufri 10 cm, Bharmaur and Khadrala 5 cm each, Manali and Keylong 3 cm each and Dalhousie 2 cm. intermittent rain lashed low hills and Ghamrooe received 18 mm of rain followed by Palampur 15 mm, Nurpur 13 mm, Dharamsala 12 mm, Dehra Gopipur and Seobagh 9 mm each, Nagrota Surian, Tinder, Banjar, Jogindernagar, Gaggal and Rajgarh 8 mm each, Guler and Bhuntar 7 mm each, Aghar, Gohar, Chamba and Sundernagar 6 mm each.

Keylong was the coldest at night with the minimum temperature of minus 6.3 while Kalpa, Dalhousie and Shimla shivered at minus 1.2 degree, minus 1.1 degree and 1.8 degree C. The maximum temperature decreased by 5 to 6 degrees and Una was the warmest with18.4 degree.

Snow brought cheer to apple growers who were disheartened with the prolonged dry spell as snow is considered white manure for the apple crop and drop in temperatures would provide the chilling hours.

Life came to a standstill and chaos prevailed as the administration struggled to clear the roads. A large number of trees were uprooted and even Cart Road, the lifeline of the town, was blocked. However, traffic to Rampur was diverted through Dhammi and Basantpur.

“We have never seen such a situation. The roads earlier used to be cleared instantly and only roads beyond Dhalli were affected but, this time, even the main roads were blocked and the commuters had to park their vehicles and walk to their destinations,” said Nalin Kumar, a senior citizen.

Tourist footfall to increase

Despite heavy snow, tourists were seen enjoying the snow on The Mall Road and The Ridge. The hotel occupancy, which is about 30 per cent, is expected to increase as roads will be cleared on Friday, said president of the Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association Sanjay Sood, adding that the season would go till February 14.

Roads blocked

    An uprooted tree due to heavy       snowfall at the ISBT in Shimla.

As many as 271 roads were blocked in the state. The maximum number 115 roads were blocked in Lahaul and Spiti district followed by Shimla (69), Mandi (44) Kullu (34), Chamba (6) and Solan (4)

Picture Source TB Service

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