High reaches of Himachal Pradesh experience early winter snowfall

Shimla, Oct 11: The high reaches of Himachal Pradesh witnessed early winter snowfall to the amount that Manali-Leh highway was closed for vehicular traffic after mounting of snow on the Rohtang pass and other high passes.

All vehicular traffic beyond Gulaba barrier near Manali has been restricted as the area received unprecedented snowfall between Sep 22 to 24 .

Lt Col and Officiating Commander of 70 RCC battalion of Indian Army Deepak Bisht confirmed that heavy snowfall started at Stingiri and in the adjoining areas like Baralachala pass and Rohtang pass.

"It is advisable to tell civilian vehicles not to move unnecessarily", he said in the alert message.

‬The district headquarter of Lahaul-Spiti Keylong recorded 7-8 inches snow. The minimum temperature of Keylong recorded minus 0.1 degrees and down by three degrees of yesterday.

Recently, more than 4000 tourists stranded in the tribal district were evacuated during a five-day period in the biggest rescue operation launched by the Indian Air force.

As heavy rains lash various parts of Himachal Pradesh, coldwaves intensified in the state.

The tourist resort in Dalhousie recorded a minimum temprature of 3.8 degrees, Kufri in Shimla 3.9 degrees, Kalpa in Kinnaur 4 degrees, Manali in Kullu 6.6 degrees, Bhuntar and Seobagh 9 degrees each, Shimla 11.3 degrees, Nahan in Sirmaur 11.6 degrees, Solan 12 degrees, Sundernagar in Mandi 12.4 degrees, Chamba 12.7 degrees, Mandi 14 degrees, Dharmshala 14.3 degrees, Una 14.6 degrees, Kangra 14.7 degrees, Hamirpur 15.2 degrees and Bilaspur 15.8 degrees.

The Met Office forecast mainly dry weather in the state in next 24 hrs