Higher reaches of Himachal experience light spells of snow

Tourist resort Narkanda and other higher reaches of Shimla district had a light spell of snow on Wednesday. Report arriving here said that light clouds had been hovering in the sky since last night. Around 1630 hrs light spell of snow was experienced in Rohru, Chirgaon Dodrakawar, and Narkanda. About three to four cm of snow sheets draped the hills in the Higher reaches of Shimla including Khadapather, Hatu, and other nearby hills. It was the first spell of snowfall in two months. However dry spell conditions prevailed in the rest of the state.

Indian Meteorological Department issued a weather forecast in the next 24 hrs stating that light to moderate spells of snowfall and rain may occur in isolated places of Satluj and Beas catchment area in the districts Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, Kangra, Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, and Shimla district. The Meteorological Office issued a warning in the foothills aware of dense fog conditions likely to affect vehicular traffic in isolated places in the districts of Una & Mandi during the next three days.

The minimum temperature of Kukamseri in Lahaul Spiti was minus 8 degrees, Shimla 3.6 Jubberhati airport 5 degrees Kalpa in Kinnaur minus 1.6,  Bhuntar 1.7 degrees 4 Kalpa -1.6, Dharamshala 5.2, Narakanda 0.4 degrees Reckongpeo 1.6, Seobagh 1.4,  Una 2, Nahan 7.1  Solan 1.81, Manali 1.1,  Kangra 3.6,  Mandi 1.7  Chamba 3.9, Dalhousie 2.8, and  Kufri 2.2 degrees respectively.

An advisory issued by the traffic police said that due to monsoon rain  Mandi to Kullu via Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura and Pandoh to Kullu via Pandoh Dam bypass link road is through but the main National Highway is not yet restored, work started on September 23, and is likely to be restored by the end of January 24. The target is being extended every month. Mandi to Kullu via Kamand or Kataula is open for both directions 24X7 for LMVs (Light Motor Vehicles) and Route buses up to 32 seater only. Other heavy vehicles are strictly prohibited.

NH 21 at Kainchi Mor near Pandoh dam was washed away in flash floods of 14th August 2023, so a makeshift link road of 400 m was built by PWD behind Pandoh Dam connecting to a village road, thus a bypass link road of distance 4.5 km has been created on which whole of NH traffic is being run. This road has been widened by PWD for crossing LMVs in both directions, but the movement of heavy vehicles is only unidirectional.

Commuters are expected to have a waiting time for heavy vehicles on either side from 20 to 50 minutes. This system is likely to remain in force till January 2024 when the main NH will be restored.