Himachal Battles Heavy Snowfall and Torrential Rains, Normal Life disrupted
Himachal Pradesh continues to grapple with relentless snowfall and heavy rainfall, disrupting daily life across several districts. Kothi emerged as the most affected, blanketed under a staggering 120 cm of snow, closely followed by Khadrala with 115 cm, Keylong at 75 cm, and Kalpa with 46 cm. Kukumseri saw 38.8 cm of snow, while Sangla recorded 23.5 cm. Nichar and Moorang each reported 15 cm of snowfall, adding to the winter woes.
Simultaneously, incessant rainfall battered the region, with Seobagh recording 116.6 mm, Bhuntar 113.2 mm, Banjar 112.4 mm, and Jogindernagar receiving 112 mm. Saloni wasn’t far behind, registering 109.3 mm of rainfall. Other significant downpours were recorded in Palampur (99.2 mm), Chamba (97 mm), Rampur (95.6 mm), and Jot (94.6 mm). Meanwhile, Baijnath received 75 mm of rain, while Kangra, Karsog (74 mm each), and Rohru (70 mm) also saw substantial precipitation.
The cold wave tightened its grip over the state, with maximum temperatures plummeting by 5-7°C below normal. Kalpa recorded the lowest minimum temperature at -2°C, while Bilaspur registered the highest maximum temperature at 20.6°C.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ongoing spell of heavy snowfall and rainfall is expected to subside in the next few hours across Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur. However, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Kinnaur may continue to experience adverse weather conditions until the evening.
Road connectivity has also taken a hit due to the extreme weather. While National Highway 05 (Shimla to Rampur) remains operational for all types of vehicles, National Highway 705 (Theog to Hatkoti) near Kharapathar is undergoing maintenance to restore smooth traffic flow. Similarly, National Highway 205 (Shimla to Bilaspur) is open, but State Highway 8 (Deha-Choupal) remains closed for traffic. However, State Highway 13 (Shimla-Sunni-Tattapani) and all roads within Shimla city are currently open.
Over the past 24 hours, the state has experienced gusty winds alongside temperature fluctuations. While minimum temperatures remained normal to slightly below normal, isolated regions recorded dips of 2-3°C below average. Strong winds were reported, with Bilaspur witnessing gusts of up to 42.6 kmph and Berthin recording 37.04 kmph.
As Himachal Pradesh endures these extreme weather conditions, authorities continue their efforts to keep major roads accessible and ensure public safety amidst the relentless snowfall and rain.
