Shimla:
Life was affected in several parts of Himachal Pradesh with many areas completely cut off due to intermittent rains and snow that continued for the third consecutive day on Friday.
S S Guleria, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti district, has advised people to stay indoors as threat of avalanches loomed large. All educational institutions in the district have been closed for two days.
The Hindustan-Tibet National highway was closed beyond Dhalli and traffic to Rampur was routed via Basantpur-Kingal road. Key tourist resort of Manali and other higher reaches in Kullu, Pangi, Bharmaur, Dodra Kwar and Kharapatthar were cut off due to snow.
Power supply has been disrupted in Kullu, Manali, Lahaul and Spiti and some other places as rains and icy winds have intensified the biting cold in the region.
Local MeT office has warned of heavy rain or snowfall at few places in Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu, Kangra, Kinnaur and Shimla districts and heavy rain or thundershowers at few places in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan and Sirmaur districts during the next 24 hours.
The tribal areas in the higher hills are experiencing moderate to heavy snowfall, while mid and lower hills were lashed by regular rains accompanied by icy winds.
The tourist resorts of Shimla, Manali, Chail, Dalhousie, Sarahan, Fagu, Narkanda and adjoining areas are experiencing heavy snowfall since Thursday. Shimla recorded 45 cm of snow while Manali and Narkanda, Fagu, Khara Patthar and other higher hills recorded 65 cm to 90 cm of snow till Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, landslides triggered by intermittent rains have disrupted traffic in link roads of the interior areas.
Areas at higher altitudes in tribal districts of Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi along with Rohtang Pass, Saach Pass and Chansel pass, are experiencing heavy snowfall.
Kasauli received 90 mm of rains till this morning while, Jubbar Hatti had 75 mm of rains, followed by Nahan 70 mm, Solan 68 mm, Bhuntar 55 mm, Paonta Sahib 53 mm, Bajaura 45 mm, Sundernagar 42 mm , Seobagh 35 mm, Jogindernagar 30 mm, Baijnath 25 mm, Saluni 22 mm and Jubbal 20 mm.
The minimum night temperature hovered around the freezing point at Shimla, Manali, Bhuntar and Saluni while it rose marginally to minus 3.5 deg C at Keylong and Kalpa.
The day temperatures also plummeted in Shimla, Manali, Chail and some other hill station to the freezing point.