The first significant snowfall of the year fell on Shimla’s neighbouring tourist destinations, created a magnificent scene. He said chances of another spell of snow in the state would continue till Thursday due to western disturbances.
Snow has fallen for the first time this season, turning Udhampur’s Basantgarh Valley into a winter wonderland. New snowfall has also covered Mahore in the Reasi area and Gulmarg, resulting in tranquil, white landscapes on Thursday. With the first light snowfall of the season, Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is blanketed in snow and has a beautiful winter backdrop. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Baramulla-Banihal train service in Jammu and Kashmir continues despite persistently heavy snowfall, demonstrating the railway ministry’s steadfast determination. The tribal areas of Kasol experienced the first heavy snowfall of the year, resulting in the closure of 134 roads, including four national highways.
While rain battered the plains in Jammu and Kashmir, several higher altitudes, particularly those along the Zojila axis on the Srinagar-Leh route, saw new snowfall.
Snowfall has begun at two more beautiful tourist destinations: Dalhousie in Chamba district and Manali in Kullu district. This is the first snowfall of the season in these locations.
After Tuesday night’s severe snowfall, some 300 visitors were reportedly rescued by police from the vicinity of the Atal Tunnel, a highway tunnel beneath the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas in upper Manali. There was one HRTC bus and maybe fifty cars carrying the tourists.
“High-altitude areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur and Shimla districts have been experiencing moderate snow,” said the official. Lower areas of the state including Dharamsala, Shimla, Solan, Nahan and Mandi received mild to moderate rain, bringing the temperature down considerably. Farmers and hotel owners in the area are happy because of the snow and rain.
Tourism industry representatives are also happy after the snow in Shimla’s nearby areas and in Manali.
“We are hopeful that the good spell of snow will attract the tourists,” said an elated hotelier in Manali. First-time visitors are encouraging people to take in the singular experience and see the “heavenly” grandeur of nature in the Himalayas, mesmerised by the captivating snowfall. Kufri has grown to be a popular destination for travellers drawn by the enchanted charm of newly fallen snow. The now is attracting many youngsters who are headed to the hills to experience the beauty of the fresh snowfall.
Different parts of the world have seen different temperatures over the last twenty-four hours. Notably, the lowest recorded temperatures were minus 2.8 degrees Celsius at Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti, minus 1.2 degrees Celsius at Kalpa in Kinnaur, and 0.17 degrees Celsius at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur. Different minimum temperatures were also recorded in other areas, including as Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Shimla, Manali, Kufri, Bhunter, Solan, and Narkanda.
By: Gursharan Kaur