Shimla: After a fortnight of setting off the South West Monsoon, major lofty high peaks above 3000 mt were draped by early snowfall, indicating an early winter season in the state.
According to the Met Office, the high reaches of Dalhousie, Kullu-Manali, and especially Lahaul Spiti and Kangra had a major spell of snowfall till last nod; however, it was mainly dry on Wednesday.
The inclement weather forecast is likely to cease with effect Wednesday, and people will get respite from freezing cold waves in the high reaches.
According to the Shimla Met Office, the night temperature in Keylong (the headquarters of Lahaul Spiti) was minus 2.3 degrees, minus 0.7 degrees yesterday. Shimla was nine degrees, about two degrees below normal.
Tourist resort Dalhousie had around 80 mm of rainfall in the last two days and got a major spell of snowfall on the high reaches, welcoming tourists and snow revelers from the plains.
Majestic Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra and Bara-Bengal got a couple of spells of snowfall. Manali-Leh NH-3 has been snowbound for the last three days.
According to IMD, all hills above 3000 meters, including Kokasar, have experienced snowfall in the last 24 hours.
According to the Shimla Met Office, the highest Hatu peak and Khadrala in Shimla district got fresh spells and snowflakes in the last two days, which are rarely witnessed in early postmonsoon or autumn seasons earlier.
The minimum temperature remained below subzero in the high reaches, including 13050 ft of Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul Valley, and 14500 ft of Knunzum, the gateway to Spiti Valley, which got one foot of fresh snowfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts improvements in inclement weather. During the next 24 hours, however, people have to pull out warm winter clothing and stick to a fire to avoid a cold wave.
In rural areas, people are busy cutting grass to maintain stock if winter and next rainy season dry fodder, clearing their farms for sowing Rabi crops, and they have to suspend their daily chores following wet conditions in mid- and high hills.
Tourists and local commuters were warned by district administration Lahaul Spiti Tuesday that Manali-Leh, Manali-Sarchu, and Darcha-Shinkula roads are snowbound.
The administration was forced to withdraw its police check post from Sarchu on September 16 following the early winter season. The check post in Darcha is still functional, but an advisory was issued to drivers to avoid driving on slippery snow roads in the freezing cold.
Mandi LS Parliamentarians and Congress state chief Pratibha Singh urged the state government and Centre to ensure early piling of fuel and winter foods and medicine stocks in the tribal areas of Chamba, Lahaul Spiti, and Kinnaur as many connecting roads became unfit to maintain stock for the season.
The state hospitality industry, which was in slumber owing to unprecedented monsoon rain and devastation, is likely to get flips as festival season and Navratra Pooja festival shrines and state tourist resorts are getting footfall of tourists and devotees from the border states.
Shimla, Manali, and Dharmshala administrations may have a hard time managing the traffic congestion ahead of the spurt in footfall of tourists as the National Highway, bridges, and major roads couldn’t be restored to their capacity.
