High alert sounded in tribal belts due to heavy snowfall

Shimla, Jan 18 (UNI) Authorities have sounded high alert in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti following heavy snowfall of upto 10 to 12 feet in the region.

The District Administration has advised people to remain inside their houses as a precautionery measure though there were no reports of further avalanches and landslides.

Since early today, temperature plummeted to below zero levels as intermittent snowfall picked relentless pace in the tribal district.

Another tribal district of Kinnaur has been cut off from rest of the state with snapping of electric and communication cable under continuous rains and snowfall due to Western disturbance for the past three days.

Recong Peo has received more the 12 cm snow with rains recorded 20 mm. Higher reaches of Kullu, including famous tourist destination of Manali have been experiencing snowfall.

Reports from Chamba district said Pangi, Bharmour, Sachpass, Tissa have cut off from the rest of the state due to heavy snowfall recorded up to five feet.

Bharmour SDM Prabhat Sharma with other government officials have rushed to take stock of the situation in the areas buried under heavy snow between Pangi and Seri Bhatwas, which are more prone to shifting of avalanches.

Low-lying areas, which have been under continuous rainfall for 24 hours, saw a slight plunge in the mercury.

Besides, the state capital Shimla, which witnessed mild sleet, other surrounding tourist destinations Narkanda, Kufri and Mashobra are experiencing incessant rainfall since morning though there was no occurrence of sleet there.

Minimum temperature at Shimla has been recorded 4.7, Sundarnagar, 8.12, Bhunter 6.6 degree Celsius, with the rainfall 9.0 mm at Shimla, 20.9 mm at Sundernagar, and 62 mm at Bhunter till the second half of the day.

UNI XC AS PS SY KP1958