Fresh snowfall blankets Himachal's higher reaches, key mountain roads closed

Fresh snowfall lashed the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and Kangra districts on Thursday, forcing authorities to close several high-altitude roads and suspend vehicular movement towards major mountain passes, while intermittent rainfall brought down temperatures across the state's lower and middle hills.

Snowfall was reported from Shinku La, Baralacha La, Kunzum La, Koksar, Jispa, Keylong and Gondla in Lahaul and Spiti, Sural and Sach Pass in Chamba, and the Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Kangra district. The fresh spell left several high-altitude stretches slippery and hazardous, prompting police to issue travel advisories and restrict movement to prevent accidents.

𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱

Officials said roads connecting Rohtang Pass to Sarchu, Darcha to Shinku La and Gramphu to Batal had been closed following the snowfall. Vehicular movement towards Shinku La, Baralacha La and Kunzum La was also suspended because of deteriorating road conditions and safety concerns. Sach Pass, which connects remote areas of Chamba district, was closed to traffic after receiving substantial snowfall.

According to reports received by the authorities, Sach Pass recorded up to 30 cm of snowfall, while Sural in the Pangi valley received 7 cm. Gondla recorded 5 cm and Keylong 3 cm of fresh snow. Officials warned that snow accumulation and slippery surfaces could make travel particularly dangerous along steep mountain roads and high-altitude passes.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Police teams safely evacuated around 100 vehicles that had become stranded near Gondla in Lahaul and Spiti following the snowfall. The operation was carried out as authorities stepped up precautionary measures to ensure the safety of motorists and tourists travelling through the region.

Lahaul-Spiti Police advised tourists and residents to avoid unnecessary journeys during the inclement weather and verify road conditions before travelling towards high-altitude destinations. Travellers were also urged to follow traffic and weather advisories and comply with instructions issued by police personnel.

Officials said restrictions on vehicular movement had been imposed as a precautionary measure and warned against attempting to cross closed mountain passes until conditions improved.

𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

The change in weather brought a noticeable chill to popular tourist destinations, including Manali and Dharamshala, where intermittent rainfall and snowfall in surrounding mountains caused daytime temperatures to fall. Residents began taking out winter clothing and lighting bonfires as cold conditions intensified.

According to the local meteorological office, Khadrala recorded the highest rainfall at 81 mm since Wednesday evening, followed by Dharamshala at 33 mm, Palampur at 26 mm and Manali at 18 mm. Kukumseri received 15.9 mm, Nichar 13 mm, Kangra 11.3 mm and Sarahan 10.9 mm.

The weather office forecast a wet spell at isolated places across the state until Saturday, indicating that unsettled conditions could continue in some areas.

Although minimum temperatures showed no major change, maximum temperatures declined markedly in several places. Kukumseri was the coldest location during the night, recording a minimum of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, while Una remained the hottest during the day at 32.6 degrees Celsius.

𝗦𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

Despite the travel disruptions, the fresh snowfall brought cheer to people associated with tourism and allied businesses, who expect the snow-covered landscape to attract more visitors in the coming days.

Local residents said the October snowfall in Lahaul and Spiti and around Manali could benefit glaciers, agriculture and tourism. Chaman, a resident of the region, expressed hope that the fresh snow would help sustain local glaciers, while Fateh Chand, associated with the tourism industry, said it could provide a boost to tourism and agriculture in Manali.

The snow-covered Dhauladhar ranges also attracted attention from residents and visitors. Saurabh, a resident of Palampur, said the mountains looked exceptionally beautiful after the snowfall.

However, authorities maintained that safety remained the immediate priority, particularly on high-altitude routes where weather conditions can change rapidly. Tourists planning to visit snowbound areas have been advised to check official road and weather updates before undertaking their journeys.