Himachal Pradesh’s higher reaches, including Rohtang Pass and Dhauladhar ranges, witnessed the season’s first snowfall on Sunday morning. Following this, the Kullu administration suspended vehicular traffic to Rohtang Pass and advised commuters not to travel through it. Trees were uprooted following the storms, and heavy downpour was reported in several parts of the hill state.
Early on Sunday, severe thunderstorms, lightning, and sporadic rains followed strong icy winds that swept the state's higher and mid-hill regions. The first snowfall of the season also fell on the expansive Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra district, and icy winds whipped the nearby valley regions, indicating the arrival of winter.
Olinda received 29 mm of rain since Saturday night, followed by Brahmani 26.4, Dharamshala 25.5 mm, Nangal Dam 23 mm, Malraon 22, Bilaspur 20.4 mm, Nainadevi 18.1 mm, and Kangra 18 mm, the weather office said. Thunderstorm was witnessed in Kufri, Jot, Murari Devi, Sundernagar, Bhunter, Kangra, and Shimla, while gusty winds with a velocity of 30 to 61 Kmph lashed Reckongpeo, Tabo, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Sundernagar, and Kukumseri.
The minimum temperatures dropped by one to three degrees across the state and Tabo was coldest with a low of 3.1 degrees, followed by Keylong 3.6 degrees, Kalpa and Kukumseri 6.2 degrees, and Kufri and Narkanda 10 degrees each.
Orange alert issued -
An orange alert has been issued for the hill state, warning of hail, heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds ranging from 40 to 50 kmph at isolated places in six districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Lahaul and Spiti districts till tomorrow.
Tourist inflow has picked up following the end of the monsoon, which had wreaked havoc in the state, causing losses exceeding Rs 4,800 crore. Shimla witnessed a surge in visitors, including a significant number of foreign tourists in the capital city.
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