Picture by Jai Kumar
Breaking a long dry spell during the winter season in Himachal Pradesh, several districts experienced extensive snowfall and rain on Thursday.
Several places in the districts of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi, and Bhamour area of Chamba, many places in Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu, and the higher reaches of Sirmour and Kangra districts were covered under the blanket of snow.
Tourist places, such as Aatal Tunnel, Narkanda, Kufri, Solangnala, etc., were also covered by a thick blanket of snow, while it has been raining in Shimla since morning.
The snowfall has affected normal life in many areas, especially in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi districts, and Pangi-Bharmour areas, as many roads were closed due to snowfall continuing for the last several hours.
In Mandi district, many devotees carrying deities coming to attend the weeklong famous Shivratri festival have been forced to walk for several miles on snow-covered paths.
Rain is also continuing in other areas of Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts sinced Thursday morning .
The MeT office has issued an orange alert for four districts—Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi—indicating the likelihood of heavy rainfall, snowfall, and thunderstorms in the coming days.
From Thursday midnight to Friday afternoon, light to moderate snowfall is likely to continue in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, and the higher reaches of Kangra, Chamba, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Kullu districts.
