0 Shimla and Manali receive first snowfall of the season

SHIMLA/ MANALI/ DHARAMSHALA: Tourists dancing on the rhythm of fresh snowfall on the famous Ridge of Shimla and The Mall Road of Manali, hoteliers attending unprecedented inquiry phone calls from tourists, traffic moving with snail’s pace on several highways and farmers thanking almighty, this is how Himachal celebrated its first snowfall of seasonin lower regions on Tuesday.

Tourists enjoy snowfall on Mall Road, Manali

Snowfall in Shimla that started at 8.15am lasted only for 15 minutes, but tourists enjoyed first snowfall of Manali town all the day. Earlier in the morning hundreds of tourists thronged Solang valley to see snowfall. Later at 12pm when it started snowing in Manali town, tourists returned back to their hotel rooms. They enjoyed snowfall right from their room’s window while some excited enthusiasts were spotted making snowmen, snowballs and trying to eat the snowflakes.

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Surjit and Pratibha, newlywed couple from Chandigarh, said: “We celebrated Christmas in advance. We are feeling like being in Antarctica.” According to the couple, they had an idea from weather forecast that Manali may witness snowfall this week and their decision of being here proved blessing for them.

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Another tourist from Chennai, Rajan Sivakumar, said he had never imagined that he would say goodbye to 2012 with such beautiful memories. “We have no time to have our lunch. It is the miracle of beauty of snowfall that we are feeling no cold. Beautiful snowflakes have filled our body with warmth. I wish if I could stay here for some more days.”

Shimla after snowfall

According to hoteliers, snowfall has rejuvenated the tourism industry of the state. “We were desperately waiting for this moment. Finally snow has descended down the mountains and touched the towns. Inquiries are pouring in from across the country. More snowfall would definitely make our Christmas and New Year memorable,” said Vivek Kapoor, an hotelier.

Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Dharamshala also experienced moderate snowfall. Triund, above McLeod Ganj and Kufri, famous tourist spot of Shimla, received 5cm fresh snow. Manali recorded 8cm snowfall while Rohtang and Solang received 40cm and 15cm fresh snow respectively. Movement of tourists was strictly prohibited beyond Palchan towards Gulaba. Jalori pass, which connects Kullu with Anni and Nirmad sub-divisions, received 25cm fresh snow and the highway was blocked for vehicles.

Administration was monitoring the movement of tourists in Manali as lured by snowfall usually they put themselves in trouble. “We are keeping a close watch on tourists and locals too. People are advised not to venture close to the isolated areas and drive carefully on slippery snow,” Manali sub-divisional magistrate Balbir Thakur said.

  

More snowfall in store for Himachal

SHIMLA: High hills of Himachal would experience more snowfall in next five days. According to a bulletin released by meteorological department, Shimla, high hills of Himachal would received heavy snowfall while mid and lower hills would receive rains with thunderstorms in next five days.

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Upper Manali (near Nehru Kund) after fresh snowfall

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The vigorous western disturbances generating from Mediterranean Sea and advancing over the Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir are showing their effects in Himachal Pradesh. High hills of the state have received up to 60cm snow in last 15 hours. Maximum temperature has decreased by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in last 24 hours while no change was noticed in minimum temperature.

With minimum temperature of -2.9 degrees Celsius, Keylong was the coldest place in Himachal followed by Kalpa (-1.2) and Manali (2). Minimum temperature of Shimla, Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Dharamshala, Una, Mandi, Nahan, Palampur and Solan was settling at 3.6, 6.1, 8.4, 6.4, 8.6, 3.7, 8.3, 9 and 3.5 degrees Celsius respectively.