Shimla: Parts of Himachal Pradesh, including state capital Shimla, were on Friday enveloped in a thick blanket of snow even as the state received rain and fresh snowfall.
The snowfall is obstructing efforts by the authorities to clear the roads in Shimla since yesterday. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district also received heavy snowfall.
The weather department has forecast light snow for Friday and rain in the coming couple of days.
According to reports from Kinnaur’s Barang village, the snowfall has damaged orchards of apples, one of the prime produces of the region.
Shimla railway station has also been submerged in snow.
The higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir also received heavy snowfall on Thursday. An avalanche occurred near the police post in Jawahar tunnel area in Kulgam district on Thursday for which rescue operations are still underway, according to police.
SSP Rajouri, Youghal Manhas, said, “Police force in higher reaches have been put on alert. We suggest people to avoid travelling in odd hours”.
An intense western disturbance that caused the snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, also led to heavy rain and hailstorms in the evening on Thursday.
Delhiites were surprised to see hail raining down the city on Thursday evening covering roads in a white shroud.
Shallow to dense fog is predicted in the national capital over the next two days.
An overall “moderate” Air Quality Index of 166 was recorded at the Safdarjung observatory on February 8.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]