Himachal Pradesh Faces Continued Weather Woes with Fresh Snowfall Forecast
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a fresh weather alert for Himachal Pradesh, predicting additional snowfall and rainfall across the state's mid- and high-altitude regions in the coming days. This forecast comes at a time when the region is already grappling with the aftermath of recent heavy snowfall, which has led to significant disruptions in daily life and infrastructure.
Detailed Weather Predictions for the Next Few Days
According to the latest updates from the weather department, light rain and snow are expected to affect the hill areas from January 31 to February 2. Specifically, on February 1, parts of the low hills may experience light rainfall, adding to the existing challenges. The Met Centre has also highlighted the possibility of thunderstorms and gusty winds at isolated locations within the state on February 1, which could further complicate recovery efforts and travel conditions.
Extensive Road Closures and Infrastructure Impact
As a direct consequence of the recent two spells of heavy snowfall, a staggering total of 482 roads remain blocked in the mid and high hills of Himachal Pradesh. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has provided a district-wise breakdown of these closures, revealing the widespread nature of the disruption.
- Lahaul-Spiti district is the hardest hit, with 273 roads closed.
- Mandi follows with 67 blocked roads.
- Kullu has 57 roads affected.
- Shimla reports 40 road closures.
- Chamba has 35 roads blocked.
- Other districts include Kinnaur (5), Una (3), Kangra (2), and Sirmaur (1).
Power and Water Supply Disruptions Across the State
Beyond transportation, the snowfall has severely impacted essential services. Power outages are widespread, with 436 Distribution Transformer Regions (DTRs) remaining disrupted. The distribution of these outages is as follows:
- Kullu leads with 187 affected DTRs.
- Shimla has 116 disruptions.
- Mandi reports 57 DTRs down.
- Chamba has 50 affected areas.
- Sirmaur and Lahaul Spiti have 13 and 11 disruptions, respectively.
Water supply has also been compromised, with 62 water supply schemes affected across the state. Shimla district bears the brunt of this issue, with 50 schemes disrupted, followed by Chamba with 10 affected schemes.
Temperature Readings from Across Himachal Pradesh
Amidst these challenges, the state continues to experience frigid temperatures. On Friday, Tabo in Lahaul Spiti was recorded as the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, with a minimum temperature plunging to -10.2°C. Other notable low temperatures include:
- Kukumseri at -9.2°C
- Kalpa in Kinnaur at -2.4°C
Tourist destinations have not been spared from the cold either, with minimum temperatures recorded as:
- Manali: -0.1°C
- Palampur: 3.5°C
- Kufri: 3.8°C
- Dharamshala: 4.4°C
- Shimla: 5.2°C
These conditions underscore the severe winter weather impacting the region, affecting both residents and visitors alike. Authorities are urging caution and preparedness as the forecast indicates no immediate respite from the adverse weather patterns.
