Himachal Reels Under Sudden Winter, Farmers Fear Crop Losses
Himachal Pradesh was jolted back into winter on Wednesday as widespread snowfall, hail, and rain lashed the state under an orange weather alert. The sudden shift brought icy conditions to higher reaches and a sharp drop in temperatures across districts.
Fresh snowfall blanketed Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and parts of Kullu, including the Atal Tunnel, while Shimla’s popular tourist spots like Kufri, Narkanda, Chopal, and Kotkhai also turned white. Rainfall was heavy in several areas, with Hamirpur’s Berthin village recording the highest at 50.6 mm, followed by Solan (48 mm) and Kasauli (43 mm). Kangra, Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Una, Dharamsala, Mandi, and Paonta Sahib also saw significant showers.
The sudden weather has hit apple orchards hard. In Shimla’s high-altitude belts — Baghi, Ratnari, Balsan, and Chopal — three to four inches of snow piled up on anti-hail nets, snapping bamboo supports and damaging trees. “The intense cold will harm pink buds and blossoms, disrupting pollination. Growers are likely to face heavy losses,” said Amit Sharma, an orchardist from Baghi.
Farmers say repeated hailstorms in recent days had already caused damage, and this fresh spell of snow has deepened worries. Many recall similar unseasonal snowfall in April 2022, pointing to a troubling trend of erratic weather patterns. With temperatures dropping sharply, the looming threat of frost has further compounded orchardists’ distress, leaving them uncertain about this year’s crop.
