Himachal weather update: 3 NHs among 146 roads still blocked due to snow, 66 power transformers non-functional

The Newz Radar

SHIMLA: As many as three national highways and 143 other roads continue to remain blocked across Himachal Pradesh due to the recent snowfall. Four water supply schemes have been disrupted and 66 power transformers lie stalled.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started efforts to clear the snow from the Aut-Banjar-Sainj National Highway-305. On Friday, NHAI bulldozers from the Ani side reached the 10,280 feet high Jalori Pass, successfully reopening the highway for small vehicles after an 11-day closure. This development has brought significant relief to residents of outer Seraj, facilitating their travel to the district headquarters.

Additionally, a snow removal operation has been initiated by Banjar authorities and NH services have been restored till Sojha for small vehicles. NH teams have been deployed with snow cutters, JCBs and dozers to tackle the approximately 120 cm thick layer of snow still present in the pass following six days of heavy snowfall.

Several residents have had to trek approximately 15 km from Ghiyagi to Khanag due to the closure of Jalori Pass, isolating 69 panchayats of Ani-Nirmand from the district headquarters. While the NHAI has reopened the highway from Ani to Jalori and from Banjar to Sojha for small vehicles, passengers must traverse 5 km on foot to reach Kullu. Furthermore, five HRTC buses remain stranded at various locations for 11 days. The NHAI officials say that the NH-305 would be reopened for small vehicles within a week if the weather permitted.