The district administration in Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh on Friday issued an avalanche warning near the Atal Tunnel, while hailstorm and rain hit the state’s summer capital and nearby areas.
Authorities restricted tourist movement and commercial activities near the north portal of the tunnel due to avalanche risk and safety concerns.
Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bandana said in an order that hill slopes on the left side of the north portal, nearby areas around the tunnel entrance, Chandra Bridge, and surrounding stretches are highly vulnerable to avalanches.
She said these locations are witnessing increasing tourist movement and unauthorised commercial activities, which pose a serious threat to human life and may hamper emergency operations and traffic management. Bandana is also the chairperson of the district disaster management authority.
According to the order, entry of tourists and the general public into avalanche-prone areas has been strictly prohibited. All vending, hawking, temporary stalls, photography points, and other commercial activities in this strategically sensitive corridor have also been banned.
Meanwhile, hailstorm followed by rain and gusty winds lashed Shimla and adjoining areas on Friday, while light to moderate rainfall was recorded at several places across the state.
The Shimla Meteorological Station issued an orange alert for hailstorm, thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50–60 kmph in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts.
A yellow warning has also been issued for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, and Sirmaur districts on April 3 and 4 for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds between 50–60 kmph.
Similar alerts have been issued for April 5 and 6 in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts, predicting thunderstorms, lightning, and winds of 40–50 kmph. On April 7, all ten non-tribal districts are expected to remain under weather alert.
The weather department said light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected at major tourist destinations such as Manali, Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Solang Valley, and Sissu between April 3 and 6 due to an active western disturbance.
It added that fairly widespread rainfall and snowfall are expected from April 7 to 9 under the influence of another active western disturbance approaching the region.
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