Bringing cheer to tourists and hoteliers, Himachal Pradesh has received heaviest snow of the season, with many places covered with more than 90cm thick white blanket. While snowfall will prove boon for tourism, it has crippled life in higher areas with blocked roads, snapped power cables and frozen water pipes. The snowflakes measuring upto 4cm started falling in most places after 10pm on Thursday. Lower areas like Mandi and Sundarnagar too witnessed snowfall after three decades. Tribal areas of the state have received up to 90cm of snow in 24 hours. While residents in lower areas were happy to see snowflakes, the snow has disturbed normal lives in higher areas of the state. Bharmour recorded highest 90cm snow while Keylong in Lahaul received 55cm more snow. Snow accumulation at Keylong has reached over 100cm. Kothi and Solang in Manali received 65cm snow and it was 55cm in Kufri near Shimla. Dalhousie received 50cm more snow. State capital Shimla recorded 36cm overnight snow. Manali town has received 35cm fresh snow. Kalpa (29cm), Theog (29), Janjehli (20cm), Mashobra (20cm) and Sarahan (17cm) also received more snow overnight. Including national highways, state highways and local roads, over 700 roads in state are blocked with snow. Parts of Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Kinnaur districts have gone disconnected. Snow has blocked roads in Shimla, Dalhousie and Manali where tourists are enjoying the fresh snow but many of them are in trouble as their vehicles have got stuck. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded in state. It may take two or three days for government to resume all the roads. Hundreds of villages have plunged into darkness as snow has snapped power transmission cables. Supply to major towns including Manali has been restored but it will take time to erect the collapsed poles and lines in
Bringing cheer to tourists and hoteliers, Himachal Pradesh has received heaviest snow of the season, with many places covered with more than 90cm thick white blanket. While snowfall will prove boon for tourism, it has crippled life in higher areas with blocked roads, snapped power cables and frozen water pipes. The snowflakes measuring upto 4cm
