Amid heavy snowfall, winter vacation in Shimla, Kangra Sub-Tehsil schools extended till February 13

Winter vacations in schools in Himachal Pradesh's state capital Shimla and Multhan sub-tehsil of Kangra district have been extended by two days following heavy snowfall, district officials said Sunday. In their orders, the district magistrates said the schools in Shimla district and Multhan sub-tehsil of Kangra district would now reopen on February 13, instead of February 11.

The decision to extend the winter vacations was taken in the interest of the safety of the students as several roads are still blocked after heavy snowfall on February 7, the Shimla district magistrate said in an order on Saturday, adding that the work of clearing the roads is going on. Similarly, Kangra district magistrate said in an order Sunday that the decision to extend winter vacations in Multhan sub-tehsil schools was taken as roads have been badly damaged due to heavy snowfall and rain in the last few days.

While the lower hills and plains of Himachal Pradesh were lashed by heavy rainfall on Friday, the higher and mid hills of the state have been receiving heavy snowfall since Thursday. Normal life was disrupted as several arterial roads were blocked and power supply was disrupted in many parts of the hill-state including capital Shimla and tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti. Experiencing heavy snowfall for the last two days, some parts of Lahaul and Spiti also witnessed avalanches.

Meanwhile, the MeT department has forecast more snowfall and rain at some places in the higher and mid hills while thundershower is expected in low hills and plains from February 12 to 15.

Cloudy skies prevailed in most parts of the state Sunday, with tourist spots Manali and Kufri experiencing biting cold at minus two and minus 0.5 degrees Celsius respectively from 5.30 pm Saturday to 8.30 am Sunday.

The tribal district Lahaul and Spiti's administrative centre Keylong continued to be the coldest place at minus 11.6 degrees Celsius, the Met office said, adding, the minimum temperature in tribal district Kinnaur's Kalpa was minus 4.6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Shimla was 2.5 degrees Celsius followed by Solan (2.4), Chail (2.3) and Dalhousie (1.2).