Snowfall blankets Himachal Pradesh; Orange alert issued by Meteorological Department
Himachal Pradesh is breaking its dry spell with intermittent rain and snowfall since Tuesday evening, offering respite to a landscape parched for more than two months. The picturesque region of Pangi-Killar has been adorned with more than one foot of snow, while snowflakes continue to grace high-altitude areas including Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Lahaul, Spiti, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sangla Valley, Kangra Valley, Dalhousie, Chamba, and Chitkul. The Meteorological Department has raised an orange alert for Thursday, cautioning residents and travelers of potentially hazardous weather conditions.
Arvind Sharma
Feb 1, 2024 09:24
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Dharamshala, February 1, 2024: Himachal Pradesh is breaking its dry spell with intermittent rain and snowfall since Tuesday evening, offering respite to a landscape parched for more than two months. The picturesque region of Pangi-Killar has been adorned with more than one foot of snow, while snowflakes continue to grace high-altitude areas including Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Lahaul, Spiti, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sangla Valley, Kangra Valley, Dalhousie, Chamba, and Chitkul. The Meteorological Department has raised an orange alert for Thursday, cautioning residents and travelers of potentially hazardous weather conditions.
The recent snowfall has brought a sigh of relief to farmers and gardeners, infusing the landscape with much-needed moisture. Simultaneously, the tourism sector is abuzz with excitement as tourists throng to the mountains to experience the captivating winter wonderland of Himachal Pradesh. Anticipating a surge in tourist arrivals over the weekend, news of the snowfall is spreading like wildfire.
In Kangra district, fresh snowfall blankets the Dhouladhar ranges, enhancing the beauty of scenic spots such as Triund, Naddi, Dharamkot, and Dal Lake. However, the urban hub of Dharamshala and surrounding low-lying areas bear the brunt of heavy rainfall, disrupting daily life and heightening the risk of landslides along hilly roads.
As the region embraces the winter charm brought by the snowfall, residents and travelers alike remain vigilant, heeding the alerts issued by the Meteorological Department. Despite the challenges posed by inclement weather, the allure of Himachal Pradesh during the snow season continues to captivate adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, snowfall records include 50cm in Kothi, 22cm in Udhaipur, 21cm in Koksai, 18cm in Kukumseri, 16cm in Khadrala, 15cm in Manali and Shilaroo, 13cm in Keylong, and 10cm in Tissa. Rainfall measurements include 50mm in Mehre, 45mm in Bhoranj, 40mm in Rohru, 34mm in Ghamroor and Chauri, 33mm in Bhuntar, 28mm in Karsog, 27mm in Seobagh, 26mm in Aghar, Saharan, and Rampur, 25mm in Dharamshala(Gaggal airport), Banjar and Palampur, 23mm in Jogindernagar, Mandi and Tinder, 22mm in Una, and 21mm in Wangloo till Thursday morning.
