Fresh snowfall, rain block several roads in Himachal
SHIMLA: Several roads, including national highway 5, were blocked in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday as Kufri, Narkanda, Kinnaur and Kharapathar witnessed a fresh overnight snowfall and other parts of the state including Shimla received rain.
Shimla superintendent of police (SP) Omapati Jamwal said, “NH 5 was closed for traffic in Kufri, Khadapathar and Narkanda. Kufri and Khadapathar road has been cleared for traffic while road clearance work is going on in Narkanda and Khidki. The road will be cleared soon.”
The Shipki La national highway connecting Firozpur in Punjab to the Sino-Indian border at Shipki La was blocked in Kinnaur district as a glacier occurred at Rali village in Kalpa tehsil following the fresh snowfall.
Kinnaur deputy commissioner
Gopal Chand said, “The snow clearance work is in progress and roads will be cleared soon.” The state meteorological department had issued an orange warning for rain and snowfall on Thursday.
Gondla in Lahaul-Spiti district received 45cm snow, Kalpa 21cm, Kothi 15 cm, Khadrala in Shimla district 15.2cm, Kufri 10cm and Bharmour in Chamba district received 5cm snowfall.
Dalhousie in Chamba district received 64mm rain, Dharamshala 42mm, Manali 33mm, Kangra 34.2mm and Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district 34.4mm rain.
State MeT director Manmohan Singh said,“Due to a fresh western disturbance, heavy snowfall and rain is likely to occur at isolated places on Thursday. Snow and rain is likely to continue at many places on March 13 and 14 resulting in significant drop in temperatures.”