Shimla: The intense cold wave sweeping most
parts of Himachal Pradesh continued unabated today as state
capital Shimla and adjoining resorts received fresh snowfall
while lower areas experienced widespread rains.
Shimla recorded 15cm of snow while Jakoo, Kufri, Fagu and
Narkanda had 20cm to 25cm of fresh snow.
The fresh snowfall added to the frequent traffic jam in
the town.
Thousands of tourists making a beeline to Shimla after
the snowfall were a harassed lot as there was no place for
parking of vehicles and narrow roads were choked by vehicles
on both sides.
The minimum night temperatures hovered around the freezing
point and water supply was affected in several areas in the
state capital due to freezing of water pipes.
Thick ground frost appeared on the roads in the morning
and slippery road conditions hampered the vehicular movement.
The Kullu-Manali road was opened last evening and was
through for vehicular traffic while Rohroo, Theog, Narkanda,
Jubbal and Chopal remained cut off as connecting roads were
blocked while traffic to Rampur, Jeory and Nathpa was being
routed through Basantpur- Kingal highway.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district experienced
the coldest night of the season with minimum temperature
dropping to minus 15.4 degree while high altitude tribal areas
reeled under biting cold wave conditions with minimum
temperature ranging between minus 18 and minus 28 degree C.
Shimla recorded a minimum temperature at minus 0.9 degree
while minimum day temprature dropped to 1.8 degree after fresh
snowfall.
The key tourist resort of Manali and Kalpa in tribal
Kinnaur district reeled under shivering cold wave conditions
with mercury staying at minus 6.6 degree and minus 7.7 dgree
respectively while Solan, Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded a
low of minus 1.8 degree, minus 1.2 degree and minus 0.4
degree respectively, three degree below normal.
Meanwhile state Public Works Minister Gulab Singh Thakur
today claimed that out of 167 major roads, over 126 roads
closed in the state due to widespread and heavy snowfall have
been opened for vehicular traffic.
Singh said most of the vital roads, affected during heavy
snowfall between January 6 and January 9, were opened for
traffic on January 9 itself.
Shimla-Solan National Highway, Shimla-Tutu-Namhol,
Banikhet-Dalhousie, Paonta Sahib-Shilai-Hatkoti, Shimla-Rampur
(via Naldehra-Basantpur), Chamba-Tissa and Chamba-Salooni
roads were opened on the same day.
Out of total 87 roads blocked due to snowfall in Shimla
Zone, 56 roads have been opened while in Mandi Zone, 44 out of
out of 51 roads are through for traffic and all the major
roads were opened in Kangra district.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 18:47