Heavy snowfall blocks roads in northern India

Shimla/Manali, Feb 10 (ANI): Scores of tourists in Himachal Pradesh were stranded as thick layers of snow blocked state highways and link roads.

Towns like Kinnaur, Manali, and Narkanda have received about 90 to 120 centimetres of snowfall in the past 48 hours.

In Shimla, tourists were seen standing on the roads, while traffic remained stranded and snow-clearing machines clear up blocked roads.

"I am in touch with all the officials, and we have snow-clearing machines at all the places, and I hope that the snow will be cleared soon and roads will be opened for traffic," said Narender Bragta, the state's Horticulture Minister.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Manali where cars struggled to move through two and half feet thick layer of snow.

Electricity and road connectivity has been badly affected and the locals preferred to not to venture out in the snow.

Snowfall has covered most of the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla along with Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)