Snowfall, rain disrupt normal life in Himachal

Normal life was affected in Himachal Pradesh as the entire tribal belt and other higher hills had another spell of heavy snowfall and the mid and lower hills received widespread rain causing sharp fall in day temperatures.
Strong velocity icy winds swept across the region and thick fog engulfed mid and lower hills reducing visibility considerably and vehicles had to move at a slow pace with headlights on during the day.
Avalanche threat loomed large over high altitude tribal areas and people living above an altitude of 2,500 metres have been advised not to venture out till the weather conditions improved.

Tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur, the Dhauladhar and Churdhar hills and Rohtang, Saach and Kunzam passes are experiencing intermittent heavy snowfall since last night and covered under a thick blanket of 80 cm to 110 cm of fresh snow.
Fresh snowfall blocked roads in the interior areas and about 80 roads in Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kangra and Chamba districts were closed due to snow while 25 roads were cleared by the Public Works Department today.
"We hope to clear all the roads by tomorrow if there is no fresh snowfall," said Ajay Garg, Superintending Engineer (Works).

A maximum number of 38 roads were blocked in Kinnaur while ten roads were blocked in Kangra, eight in Shimla and six each in Mandi and Dalhousie but all the national and state highways except Theog-Chopal and Theog-Rohroo were open for traffic.
The entire tribal belt of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur, Dhauladhar and Churdhar ranges and an Rohtang and Kunzam passes are experiencing intermittent heavy snowfall since last night while mid and lower hills are experiencing intermittent rains.