Shimla: Normal life was thrown out of gear in higher hills and tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh as the region experienced heavy snowfall while mid and lower hills reported widespread rains.
The state capital Shimla and its surrounding resorts of Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda also received heavy snowfall. Rohtang Pass, Saach pass, Chansel pass and Kunzam Pass and also Dhauladhar and Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur and Kangra district received 100 cm of snow while Shimla received 20 cm of snow till this evening, the Met office said.
The Met office also said more snowfall and rain would take place in the state in next five days. Nauradhar, Haripurdhar, Nerwa, Jubbal, Kharapatthar and adjoining areas received 35 to 40 cm of snow and all roads in the interiors of Shimla, Sirmaur and Kullu were closed due to snowfall while Hindustan-Tibet National highway was closed beyond Shimla and Rampur bound vehicles were being routed via Basantpur and Kingal.
The rains and snow brought cheers to farmers and apple growers and broke the dry spell causing anxiety to farmers. The rains were badly needed for Rabi crop which had withering in some areas in lower hills and snow was white manure for good apple crop.
The Lahaul valley and 100 Panchayats in Transgiri area of Sirmaur were without electricity and mobile network was also not functioning, reports reaching here said.
The maximum day temperatures fell sharply by ten to 16 degree and Shimla which recorded maximum temperature at 21.8 degree Celsius on February 5, registered a high of 5.2 degree Celsius.
Una was hottest during the day with maximum temperature at 19.8 degree while Solan and Dharamsala recorded a high of 15 degree and 13.4 degree, followed by Nahan 12.8 degree, Sundernagar 10.9 degree, Bhuntar 10 degree, Manali 6 degree and Kalpa 3 degree Celsius.
Dharamshala was wettest in the region as it received 50 mm rains while, Manali 30 mm, Chamba, Sundernagar and Kalatop 23 mm, Bhuntar and Bajaura 20 mm, Gaggal 19 mm, Jogindernagar 17mm, Sarkaghat 15 mm.
Shimla town, donning a mantle of impeccable white snow presented a fascinating look after the snowfall and the area between Kufri and Fagu was covered under 35 cm thick layer of snow.
The rains and snow has brought the rain deficit from January 1 to February 7 from 84 to 70 per cent and prediction of more rains or snow over next five days by MeT office had raised the hopes of farmers.
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