Munish Sood
Mandi:
As Himachal Pradesh grapples with an unusually long dry spell at the start of the year, renowned Mandi-based astrologer Gopal Kapoor has made a fresh announcement on when rain and snowfall are likely to return to the state.
Gopal Kapoor, whose past predictions during the 2025 rain disaster had drawn attention after one reportedly came true, now claims that “real winter will be felt only after January 10”.
The astrologer, who often mixes folklore and spiritual symbolism in his forecasts, said he had received the message in a dream. “Sardi aur barfbari kya hoti hai, woh aapko 10 January ke baad pata chalegi. Shankhchud daitya ji ne mujhe sapne mein bataya. Aaj 5 January 2025 ko main yeh keh raha hoon (You will realise what real cold and snowfall are only after January 10. Shankhchud, the demon, revealed this to me in a dream. I am stating this today, on January 5, 2025),” he posted on Facebook, a message that went viral on social media.
However, there were some users who make fun of the post, saying Gopal Kapoor mentioned 2025 instead of 2026, and that the prediction also appeared to be for the year gone by.
Track record under spotlight
Gopal Kapoor had earlier gained prominence after predicting that a building would collapse in Kullu’s Akhara Bazaar during the 2025 rain disaster, an incident that later did occur, lending credibility to his claims among followers.
However, his more recent prediction of widespread rain and snowfall around the New Year did not materialise, as most parts of Himachal remained dry despite intense cold. This mismatch has put his latest forecast under scrutiny, even as farmers and residents continue to anxiously track any sign of precipitation amid drought-like conditions.
Dry weather persists, cold wave tightens grip
After light rain and snowfall in the opening days of the year, weather across Himachal has turned largely dry. The absence of precipitation has intensified concerns for agriculture and water availability, even as a severe cold wave grips the state. Dense fog and plunging temperatures have pushed at least five locations into sub-zero territory.
The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, has forecast a slight change in weather due to the activation of a weak western disturbance. Light snowfall is likely at isolated high-altitude locations in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur on January 5, with similar chances for higher reaches of Chamba, Kullu and Kinnaur on January 6. However, mid-hill and lower areas are expected to remain dry.
The department has also issued a yellow alert for dense fog till January 8 in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur districts, advising motorists to drive cautiously and use fog lights.
