Heavy Snowfall Likely In Uttarakhand Today As IMD Sounds Orange Alert, Schools Closed In Chamoli

Heavy snowfall and coldwave are forecast in Uttarakhand's hilly regions above 2,500 meters on Saturday, prompting a holiday declaration for schools in Chamoli district.

Heavy snowfall is predicted for several hill districts of Uttarakhand on Saturday.

Source : PTI

Heavy snowfall is expected at isolated places located above 2,500 metres in the hill districts of Uttrakahand on Saturday along with coldwave conditions, said the India Meteorological Department. 

In view of the expected inclement weather condition, a holiday has been declated in all government, non-government schools and anaganwadi centres in the Chamoli district, reported PTI. 

Given the forecast of heavy snowfall and coldwave by the Meteorological Centre, Dehradun, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari has declared a holiday in all government, non-government, private schools from class 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres in the district on Saturday for the safety of the students, said Additional District Information Officer Ravindra Negi. 

In view of the forecast of heavy snowfall and cold wave issued by the Meteorological Center, District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari has also declared a holiday in all government, non-government, private schools from class 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres in Chamoli district on December… pic.twitter.com/wcEzyhpxE8

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Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar are some other districts that are expected to receive heavy snowfall and coldwave conditions. 

Srinagar Receives First Snowfall 

Several areas in the plains of Kashmir including Srinagar received the season's first snowfall on Friday draping the valley in white. Light to moderate snowfall was recorded in most areas of Kashmir, including the plains, as a result of a western disturbance, said the officials. 

The higher reaches received snowfall in the morning while the plains, including Srinagar, witnessed snowfall later in the afternoon, reported PTI. 

The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, tourist resorts of Sonamarg and Pahalgam, Gurez, Zojila axis, Sadhna Top, Mughal Road and many areas in Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts also recorded snowfall on Friday. 

The snowfall also led to the closure of the Srinagar-Leh Highway and the Mughal Road, the officials said.