Himachal weather: Orange alert issued as state braces for heavy snowfall, rain

Shimla: The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh, forecasting heavy snowfall in high-altitude regions and moderate to heavy rainfall in mid and lower hills.

The alert, in effect from February 20 midnight to February 21 morning, covers districts including Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Sirmaur. The alert comes even as the high-altitude areas of Himachal woke up to a white blanket of snow on Thursday (February 20, 2025) morning.

The inclement weather has already begun impacting daily life. In Atal Tunnel’s vicinity, snowfall was accompanied by a blizzard, further worsening travel conditions.

Slippery roads make traffic movement risky

Upper Shimla experienced heavy snowfall, affecting vehicular movement. Roads leading to Kufri, Narkanda and Chopal were rendered impassable, while slipperiness in Kufri caused multiple vehicles to get stuck.

Chamba district saw snowfall in upper reaches, leading to road blockages on ten routes, leaving travelers stranded. The Public Works Department has been deployed to restore access.

However, the snowfall has brought cheer to farmers and orchardists, who anticipate improved apple production due to the favorable conditions.

Dharamshala police recruitment postponed

The police recruitment process in Dharamshala, scheduled to begin on Thursday, had to be postponed due to persistent rain.
Candidates originally called on February 20 will now be required to appear on March 7. Authorities have assured that if the weather clears up, the recruitment will proceed as scheduled for the remaining days.

According to the Met Department, heavy snowfall is likely in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and the higher regions of Chamba, Kangra and Kullu until February 26. Moderate rainfall is also expected across Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, and lower regions of Shimla, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts.

Authorities have urged residents and travellers to exercise caution, avoid non-essential travel, and stay updated with weather advisories.

TNR