Lower hills saw light rainfall, with Kandaghat, Kasauli, Jubbarhatti, and Mandi recording up to 2.2 mm of rain.
Himachal Pradesh Weather Update Latest News Today, Shimla and Manali Snowfall: Himachal Pradesh experienced its first snowfall of the season, disrupting transportation and power supply in several areas while bringing much-needed relief to farmers, apple growers, and the tourism industry.
Roads and Infrastructure Affected
A total of 87 roads, including the strategic Atal Tunnel-Leh National Highway 3 near Manali's Rohtang Pass, were closed due to snow accumulation. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) reported that Shimla bore the brunt with 58 road closures, followed by Kinnaur (17), Kangra (6), Lahaul and Spiti (2), and one each in Kullu and Chamba districts.
The snowfall disrupted the power supply in many areas, with 457 transformers out of operation. Despite these challenges, the supply of essential goods and school examinations in Shimla continued without interruption.
Rescue Operations
Since Sunday evening, police in Lahaul and Spiti rescued approximately 800 stranded individuals from 490 vehicles trapped in snow. Slippery road conditions disrupted vehicular movement in the upper Shimla region.
Snowfall Brings Cheer Amid Intense Cold Wave
Shimla, Kufri, Fagu, Chansel, Narkanda, Churdhar ranges, and other tourist hotspots such as Manali, Kasauli, and Chail were blanketed in snow, breaking a ten-week dry spell. Shimla received 2.5 cm of snow, covering landmarks like The Ridge, Mall Road, and Jakhoo Peak in a light layer of white.
The snowfall brought temperatures plummeting. High-altitude tribal areas faced extreme cold, with minimum temperatures ranging from -12°C to -18°C. Tabo recorded a low of -12.3°C, while Koksar, Khadrala, and Sangla received 6.7 cm, 5 cm, and 3.6 cm of snow, respectively.
Lower hills saw light rainfall, with Kandaghat, Kasauli, Jubbarhatti, and Mandi recording up to 2.2 mm of rain.
Rainfall Deficit Improves
The post-monsoon rainfall deficit in Himachal Pradesh slightly improved from 98% to 96% due to the recent precipitation. Despite this, the deficit remains high in districts such as Chamba (100%), Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmaur, and Hamirpur (99%), Kangra and Solan (97%), and Shimla (96%).
The state received 2.1 mm of rainfall from October 1 to December 9, far below the average of 49.3 mm for this period.
Yellow Warning Issued
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow warning for dense fog in the Bhakra Dam reservoir area (Bilaspur) and Balh Valley (Mandi) during the early morning and late-night hours on December 10 and 11.
While the snowfall has disrupted normal life, it has also brought much-needed moisture to the region, providing a boost to agriculture and tourism sectors ahead of the peak winter season.
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