SHIMLA/KEYLONG: Manali-Keylong National Highway and Atal Tunnel, Shimla-Narkanda, Chopal-Khirki-Chambi and Kharapathar-Rohru roads remained snow-blocked for all moment of traffic today. BRO, NHAI, PWD are on the job to make the roads for safe movement of all traffic.
The much-needed snowfall has come as a harbinger of hopes for the farmers who can now go for tree plantation and other works that need moisture and water.
As far as apple industry is concerned, the chilling hours will be fulfilled as the snow-cover in the orchards has wider cooling effect, keeping the chill and temperature low for the apple plants, said Dr Vijay Thakur, former VC-Dr Y S Parmar university of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan.
"The farmers should not worry about the chilling hours now due to the fresh spell of snow".
There are reports that the drought-like situation has already destroyed Rabi crops including mustard, wheat, Peas, gram etc worth over 25000 MT in lower areas, creating water scarcity as well.
The NHAI and PWD have cleared the snow on the main Shimla-Kufri-Theog-Narkanda and Theog-Kharapathar-Rohru highways.
But the roads remained slippery. “We are spreading sand on the stretch between Fagu and Galu for safe movement of traffic, said the PWD and NHAI engineers.
The 4x4 vehicles are plying on these roads, they said. HRTC and public transport services remained unrestored in the upper Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, and Kinnaur districts so far, even as machineries are on the job.
As snowfall continues and weather remains packed, district administration of Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba and Kinnaur have advised locals and tourists not to commute on these roads till the snow is cleared and weather clears up.
PWD has launched snow clearance on the Deha-Chambi-Khirki- Chopal road, which has recorded 20 cms of fresh snow for the last 24 hours.
Administration has also advised hoteliers and homestay owners mainly in Lahaul-Spiti to advise their guests not to venture on the snowcovered roads till the roads are restored for traffic.
Similarly, it has been snowing in Leh and Ladakh, Higher borders and hill areas of Uttarakhand, Kashmir valley, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh intermittently for the last 24 hours.
Braving sub-zero frigid temperatures, BRO karmayogis have launched snow-clearing operation on the highland national highways, keeping all lines of communication open in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Ladakh, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.
Srinagar-Zozila-Leh and Keylong-Baralacha-Serchu-Leh are closed officially since December last.
DC Lahaul-Spiti, Sumit Khimta said the Manali-Keylong Highway is closed for traffic due to snowfall. North and South portal of Atal Tunnel has received over one foot of snowfall, while Sissu in Lahaul has recorded 5 to six inches till this morning, he added.
District administration has kept the disaster management authority in place to meet any emergency situation arising out of the fresh spell of snowfall and the inclement weather.