Himachal Pradesh Battles Widespread Rain, Snowfall, and Landslides
For the second consecutive day on Saturday, parts of Himachal Pradesh's low and mid hills were drenched with light to moderate rainfall, while many high-altitude areas received fresh snowfall. This persistent weather pattern triggered significant disruptions, including landslides in Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts, leading to road blockages and hazardous conditions for tourists.
Rainfall and Snowfall Across Multiple Districts
Rainfall was recorded in several districts, including Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Kangra, and Kinnaur. Higher reaches such as the Atal Tunnel, Gondhla, Sissu, Keylong, Jispa, Darcha, Sumdo, and Kaza experienced snowfall, along with mountain passes like Rohtang Pass and Shinkula. Additionally, parts of the Pangi valley in Chamba district saw snowfall on Saturday.
Extensive Road Blockages and Landslide Incidents
According to the district disaster management authority in Lahaul-Spiti, a total of 155 roads remained blocked due to snowfall. Key affected routes include Darcha to Sarchu, Darcha to Shinkula Pass, and Gramphu to Batal. In Kinnaur district, the Kinnaur-Spiti highway was temporarily blocked by a landslide at Malling Nalla on Saturday morning but was reopened within hours by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
In Kullu district, the Manikaran-Barshaini road in the popular Parvati valley was again obstructed by a landslide at Ghatigarh. This forced many tourists to risk their lives by crossing this highly landslide-prone stretch on foot. Notably, this link road, which connects Manikaran with Barshaini—a gateway to the trekking destination Kheerganga—has been blocked at least a dozen times due to landslides at Ghatigarh since January.
Hailstorms and Rainfall Data
Hailstorms were also reported in some parts of the state, including Balh Valley in Mandi district and several areas in Shimla and Kullu districts. The meteorological centre in Shimla provided rainfall data till 8:30 am on Saturday, with Chamba district recording the highest at 15.8 mm, followed by Solan at 12.4 mm, Kangra and Lahaul-Spiti at 9.4 mm each, Kullu at 8.9 mm, Kinnaur and Mandi at 8.7 mm each, and Shimla at 8.1 mm.
Overall, Himachal Pradesh recorded an average rainfall of 9.3 mm by Saturday morning, which is a staggering 286% more than the normal 2.4 mm.
Temperature Drops and Weather Alert
Temperatures dropped significantly across the state. Tabo recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 0.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Among tourist spots, Shimla had a minimum of 9.4°C, Palampur 12°C, Manali 7.2°C, and Kasauli 13.5°C. Maximum temperatures also fell sharply: Manali recorded 11.8°C (8.1 degrees below normal), Kangra 22.6°C (a drop of 7.8 degrees), Solan 22°C (5.2 degrees below normal), and Sundernagar 21.9°C (6.9 degrees below normal). Una had the highest maximum temperature at 30.6°C, still 1.7 degrees below normal.
Meanwhile, the weather department has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in parts of Himachal Pradesh on April 5, indicating continued weather challenges ahead.
