Traffic through Rohtang tunnel restricted after snowfall
Himachal Road Transport Corporation suspends all bus services to Kullu due to bad weather; higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur get mild snowfall
Traffic movement towards Lahaul through Atal Tunnel at Rohtang has been restricted after the valley experienced mild snowfall on Friday morning.
Lahaul-Spiti superintendent of police (SP) Manav Verma said only tourist vehicles and taxis with four-wheel drive are being allowed to pass through the tunnel. However, all vehicles of local residents of Lahaul-Spiti are being allowed.
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In case of any emergency, people can contact the District Disaster Control Room on 94594-61355 or the district police control room on 89880-92298.
In view of the bad weather conditions, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation has also suspended all bus services to Kullu. HRTC regional manager Mangal Chand Manepa said, “Bus services between Keylong and Kullu have been suspended. However, bus services towards the Pangi valley of Chamba will continue.”
Meanwhile, the higher reaches in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur experienced mild snowfall while middle and low hills experienced rain.
Koksar got 8.09cm of snowfall, Gondla 5.2cm, Hansa 5cm, Sumdo 3.7cm and Keylong 3cm. Snowfall was also recorded in Kaza in Spiti valley.
The tourist resort of Manali was the wettest place, experiencing 8mm of rainfall. Banjar got 7.2mm of rain, Sangla in Kinnaur 6.8mm, Kalpa 5.8mm and Bhunter 4.2mm of rainfall.
State capital Shimla got 0.4mm of rainfall, Bilaspur 3mm and Sundernagar and Mandi 2.1mm each.
The meteorological department has forecast rain and snow till December 6.
Shimla meteorological centre director Surender Pal said a western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from Saturday night. “A yellow weather warning has been issued for heavy snowfall and rain on December 5,” he said.
Meanwhile, night temperatures rose by 2-3 degrees Celsius and the average minimum temperature in the state remained above normal.
Keylong, the administrative headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, was the coldest with a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Kalpa at 2.2 degrees C. Shimla recorded a low of 5.2 degrees, Kufri 4.7 degrees and Dalhousie 7.7 degrees Celsius. Manali saw a low of 6.8 degrees, Palampur 8.9 degrees and Dharamshala 10.6 degrees Celsius.