Shimla and surrounding areas witness heavy snowfall

Shimla and nearby areas of Kufri and Narkanda were covered with snow on Monday as the mercury dropped below the freezing point.The city and the nearby areas are experiencing intermittent heavy snowfall since around 7 AM.

It added to the woes of people, especially officer goers, who had to go through a snail-paced traffic and disrupted power supply to some localities.

Upper areas of Shimla, Kufri and Narkanda recorded 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm of snow. Mercury in the capital city dipped to minus 0.3 degree Celsius. The clearing of snow on the roads has started as the district management had made arrangements in advance after the bitter experience of first heavy snowfall which paralysed normal life for several days.

Also Read: Higher hills of Himachal receive light snowfall, tourists cheer in Shimla and surrounding areas

The snow is being cleared on roads leading to hospitals on a priority basis and all Deputy Commissioners have been directed to give hourly report on the situation to the State Emergency Response Centre.

Also Read: Fresh snowfall shuts Srinagar-Jammu Highway, flights disrupted

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature rose marginally at many places. Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded a low of minus 4 and minus 3 degrees Celsius, Manali zero, Bhuntar 4.4, Solan 5.4, Nahan 5.7, Sundernagar 6.5, Dharamsala 8.2 and Una 9.6 degrees Celsius.

Also Read: Himachal under intense cold wave grip, Keylong shivers at -11.6 degrees; Met dept issues heavy snowfall alert

The MeT office has predicted scattered rains or snow January 17 onwards for two days.