Himachal weather update: March-end snow surprises many, orange alert issued for 4 districts today

 Atal Tunnel, other higher reaches of state draped in white, other parts experience rain

TNR Desk

At a time when the mercury has started to inch towards 35 degrees Celsius in the plains, it continues to snow in Himachal amid sub-zero temperature.

Fresh snowfall was received in the higher reaches of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh amid a two-day orange alert issued on March 29 and 30 by the weather department.

The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts on Saturday too.

Other parts of the state have been receiving intermittent rainfall since Friday night, accompanied by thunderstorms, hail and lightning. The fresh snow was received in various areas, including Atal Tunnel in Kullu’s Rohtang, Rampur’s Shraay Koti in Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Bharmour, a remote region of Chamba. The occurrence of snowfall on March 30 during the summer season has surprised many. Keylong, Shraay Koti and the Rohtang tunnel have witnessed 3 to 5 cm of fresh snowfall.

A yellow alert has been issued for further snowfall in parts of Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba and Kullu and rain in other regions. The western disturbance is expected to remain active in the state until Sunday and is forecasted to weaken by April 1.

In light of the Meteorological Department’s warning, the district administrations in Kinnaur, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti have advised tourists and locals against venturing into higher elevations where the risk of avalanches is often prevalent during such weather conditions.

Electricity has been disrupted in many areas of the state since last night due to lightning, with Shimla experiencing frequent power outages. While recent rains have brought relief to farmers, concerns among apple orchardists have heightened as the temperature has dropped again after the precipitation.

This drop in temperature poses a threat to the apple crop, especially given the ongoing apple flowering in lower areas. Clear weather conditions are crucial in such circumstances. Additionally, stone fruits are also at risk of damage due to the continued rain and cold weather.