Snow and rain continues in HP

Shimla, Mar 13 (UNI) Shimla and its adjoining areas today experienced snowfall in March for the first time after 1998 when the town experienced over 60 cm of snow.

Shimla Meteorological Department Director Manmohan Singh told UNI here that the state capital had recorded over 60 cm of snow on March 13, 1998.

He said the strong western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and other neighbouring areas was responsible for heavy snow in the high altitude areas and widespread rains in the mid and lower hills of the state.

Shimla Deputy Commissioner Tarun Kapoor told UNI over the telephone that no tourists were stranded on the Kufri-Chail road, saying that a landslide held up traffic for a few hours only.

The road was cleared in about four hours and traffic restored, he said.

The Hindustan-Tibet national highway was blocked beyond Shimla due to heavy now at Khara-Patthar and Narkanda and vehicles bound for upper Shimla have been diverted via Mashobra and Sunni.

The famous tourist sites of Narkanda, Fagu and Kufri in Shimla district recorded snowfall much to the delight of the tourists this afternoon, while Chanchel ranges in Rohru area of the district experienced moderate snowfall.

Intense cold conditions are prevailing in the state after heavy snowfall in all higher reaches of Kinnuar, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Sirmaur districts of the state.

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