HP: Snowfall in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu

Parts of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and higher reaches of Kullu and Chamba districts in Himachal Pradesh received moderate to heavy snowfall, the MeT office here said on Monday.

The weather office had issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rain/snowfall and thunderstorms accompanied by hail, gusty winds and lightning in seven out of 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh on Monday.

Some tourists stranded on the Komik-Hikkam road in Spiti valley in Lahaul and Spiti following snowfall were rescued and taken to a nearby homestay, the district police said.

Kusumseri, Udaipur, Gondla, Keylong and Hansa in Lahaul and Spiti district received 50.6 cm, 39 cm, 27 cm, 21 cm and 11 cm of snowfall respectively while Kalpa and Pook in Kinnaur district received 2.6 cm and one cm snow besides Bharmour in Chamba which received 12 cm of snow, it said.

The higher reaches of Kullu, including the south portal of the Atal Tunnel, are receiving intermittent snowfall and traffic beyond Manali has been stopped. The higher areas of Dalhousie also received snow, according to reports.

Light to moderate rains occurred in mid and lower hills and Tissa in Chamba received the highest rainfall of 41 mm, followed by Sangla, Bharmour and Manali 11 mm each, Dalhousie and Chamba 5 mm each.

Cold wave conditions have revived in the state. The sky remained heavily overcast and strong winds lashed the region, signalling more snow and rain in the state. A western disturbance has affected western Himalayan region since Saturday night.

State capital Shimla witnessed hailstorm for a short span on Monday evening. The MeT office has cautioned that essential services such as electricity, water and communication could be affected.

The minimum temperatures rose by a few notches and stayed two to eight degrees above normal, it said.

Kusumseri was the coldest in the state with a low of minus 0.5 degrees while Kangra and Dharamshala recorded night temperatures of 13.8 degrees and 11.2 degrees respectively, which was 8.3 degrees and 4.2 degrees above normal.

Bialspur was the hottest in the state during the day at 25.7 degrees.

The MeT department also issued an orange warning of heavy rain/snow and thunderstorms accompanied with hail, gusty wind and lighting at isolated places on Tuesday and predicted rains or snow at isolated places on February 22, 23 and 24.

The residents, tourists, tourism stakeholders and farmers are happy as snowfall would increase the tourist footfall and snow and rains are also beneficial from crops and apples.